Best Johnny Cash song

Tennessee Stud

wow....why not ask which Picasso is the best?

folsom prison blues

Well I'm of the thought that Johnny Cash songs, like Bob dylan songs, are personal and mean different things to different people. So everyone has a best/favorite/beloved song from people like Bob Dylan or Cash.

cocaine blues

speaking of which. . .

only God can judge.

that one....you know....where his drawl absolutely breaks your heart and kicks your soul in the teeth....that one.

At least pick one that he wrote.

Fine.

Hurt.

i'm gonna go with Sam Hall. that song always puts me in a good mood and brings a smile to my face

though Ring of Fire is definately a classic.

well, since you put it that way....my most beloved Johnny Cash song is Drive On, because it reminds me of my dad.

Johnny Cash is more American than anyone I can think of. He was vocally against the Veitnam War, without being preachy or trite. He also remembered that the forgotten tragedy of the Vietnam War was it's veterans.

Drive On is the theme song for the blue-collar working man who was thrust into a war in a country he had most likely never heard of until he was knee deep in it. It's about the grunt, the dog-face.

Over the years, I've talked to my dad about his experiences in Vietnam. I've asked him what was on his mind while he was in that war......how he handled it, what he did to survive. His answer was always "Try to get back home"

To this day, I can't listen to Drive On without thinking of my dad and crying.

I got a friend named Whiskey Sam
He was my boonierat buddy for a year in Nam
He said is my country just a little off track
Took 'em twenty-five years to welcome me back
But, it's better than not coming back at all
Many a good man
I saw fall And even now,
every time I dream I hear the men
and the monkeys in the jungle scream

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

I remember one night,
Tex and me Rappelled in on a hot L.Z.
We had our 16's on rock and roll
But, with all that fire,
was scared and cold
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead, but by God's grace

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

I came home, but Tex did not
And I can't talk about the hit he got
I got a little limp now when
I walk Got a little tremolo when I talk
But I finally found out who I am
I'm a walkin' talkin' miracle from Vietnam

Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on

Yup

...he wrote Hurt? ahaha... I hope I just misunderstood you

anyway, my personal favourite (not his best, but my favourite) is Rusty Cage.

i'm listening to it right now just cause you said that. actually it's a duet with willie nelson and the late great man in black.

I was kididng. Who cares who wrote what, I was trying to say. I know it as a Cash song and it'll always be a cash song. Not as good as Tennessee Stud, though.

oh, I agree... in fact, I think a good number of his covers are far superior to his originals.... but I thought you were serious when you said Hurt was by him (I know people who actually think so)

Johnny's cover of Beck's Rowboat is much better than the original...one of his best qualities was being able to translate another writers song and lyrics and truelly make it sound like his own.

ring of fire, give my love to rose, and delia's gone.

Christmas In A Trailer I have the album, oh so handy roun em hollydays

Serious answer - Tennessee Stud

cocaine blues

fuck it i was gonna agree with cocaine blues but i cant pick a favorite

[Edited on Mar 20, 2004 by DrStinkypants]

So many great songs to choose from:

Ira Hayes
I walk the line
Man in Black
Ragged Ol' Flag
Tenn Stud
Ring of Fire
Thirteen (Danzig cover)
Hurt
Dielas Gone

OH DAMN time to go and listen to a few CDs hahaha

even though it was written by Shel Silverstein, A Boy Named Sue is my favorite song sung by Johnny. I love it.

Ya know.. I've also found the same to be true about his religious songs. I normally can't stand religious songs but his don't bother me.

And I must say I have to divide his own songs and his covers into two separate groups. Its still hard for me to choose though..

His songs I'd have to say The Man Comes Around and Let the Train Blow the Whistle.

Songs he didn't right is more difficult.. I'd have to go with Unchained, Mercy Seat, I Never Picked Cotton, I See a Darkness.. Spiritual too maybe..