The album features narration by Cash between a number of songs, and the songs he wrote show the diversity of the West. In “Hiawatha’s Vision” Cash used Longfellow’s poem as a starting point to tell the story of the settling of the West by whites who displaced Indians. “Hardin Wouldn’t Run,” written after Cash had read a biography of the famous outlaw, is a narrative of John Wesley Hardin’s life and death. “Mean as Hell” is a recitation about a pact the Devil made in order to settle the West.
The poem is long and involved and endlessly fascinating. Obviously, Cash knew the violence of the West and the dangers of the desert; this is not an area for the squeamish. In “Reflections,” the last song on the album, Cash again presents a recitation that captures the panoply of the West, the history of this vast, savage land and the tough, resilient people who came there.
In addition to this western album, Cash sang the theme song to the movie The Sons of Katie Elder, which starred John Wayne. The song reached number ten on the charts in 1965. After Columbia released the double album of True West, the album was edited down to a single album entitled Mean as Hell and it was released, too. And so 1965 ended with Johnny Cash’s image firmly established as a folk singer about the mythical West.
The West and western songs were an important part of Johnny Cash’s life and recordings, but he could never be fenced in by anything. A lot of people saw him as larger than life; he probably saw himself the same way. In his songs, albums and life he always projected a sense of vision, a sense of “calling” and a higher purpose to his life and work.
He had never been just another artist looking for the next hit or a singer just trying to get to the next gig. If Johnny Cash achieved the status of a great man it was because he had aspired to become a great man. He set high standards for himself—in his life and in his work—and worked hard to fulfill them. Although he may have fallen short of greatness at times in his life and work, his vision was always there and he was able to continue his journey having learned his lessons.
Few people carry the ambition and resolve to become a great man in their life; Johnny Cash was one of them. On June 7, 1969, The Johnny Cash Show became a weekly show on ABC- TV. The hourlong program was originally a summer series, broadcast on Saturday nights. In the fall of 1969 it was moved to Wednesday evenings, where it continued its run until May 1971. (It was briefly revived as a summer series in 1976).
This popular television program brought Johnny Cash into American homes each week and multiplied his fame. Again he used this platform to do more than entertain. He had a “Ride This Train” segment which combined history and geography, he featured gospel music, and he introduced performers such as Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson. With this TV show, Johnny Cash went from being a superstar in country music to an American icon/figure in country music of almost mythic proportions.
Johnny Cash never recorded another album comprised solely of western songs after his 1960s album but he often reached back to the West for songs. The 1980s began on a high note for him. In October he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. But during the 1980s Johnny Cash left Columbia Records and recorded for a variety of labels and sang on a number of other artists’ recordings.
He continued to tour, appeared in several TV movies and on some TV series (such as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman). Perhaps the most satisfying work for Cash during the early 1980s was his double album of gospel songs, A Believer Sings the Truth, recorded for the Cachet label. On this album Cash was able to express the many dimensions of his faith. There is an old hymn (“Oh Come, Angel Band”), an old southern gospel favorite (“Gospel Boogie”), some spirited black gospel (“There Are Strange Things Happening Everyday”) and a spiritual (“Children Go Where I Send Thee”).
He also wrote a number of songs for the album. In his gospel songs Cash’s early work shows him repeating themes he’d heard in church or retelling biblical stories. But by the time of this album he was trying to apply the gospel message to the contemporary world and find new insights into biblical messages. “Wings in the Morning” is reminiscent of his early work as he sings about life after death. “When He Comes” tells of the Second Coming.
“I’m a Newborn Man” was cowritten with his young son, John Carter, and came from a phrase the young boy was singing. “I’m Gonna Try to Be That Way” was recorded previously and talks of his commitment to be like Jesus. “What On Earth (Will You Do for Heaven’s Sake)” is an admonishment to believers to live the Christian life here on earth, while “Over the Next Hill” is about the coming end times.
