I'm born as J.R. Cash in Arkansas
My blood's part Cherokee, so says my maw
Sing with a deep voice and a twitching jaw
I make my dash,
I'm Johnny Cash

I'm on the charts by nineteen fifty-five
My first songs with Sun Records give me drive
I struck a claim for fame and came alive
I'm young and brash,
I'm Johnny Cash

First number one hit's called, "I Walk The Line"
I'm in the spotlight and begin to shine
I write of prison life with sorrowed rhyme
A "Folsom" smash,
I'm Johnny Cash

My style is "Boom-Chick-Boom" freight train guitar
Amphetamines are never very far
Some stress relief to soothe a country star
No one-hit flash,
I'm Johnny Cash

The Man in Black becomes a tag I'll choose
A marriage to Rosanne's mom I will lose
Become a big star, but, I pay the dues
Tighten the sash,
I'm Johnny Cash

Sun Records pushes Jerry Lee's, not mine
So, with Columbia I go and sign
"Don't Take Your Guns To Town" sparkles new shine
Won't burn and crash,
I'm Johnny Cash

Then, I meet June Carter and Merle Kilgore
Their "Ring Of Fire" is what I'm searching for
Merle is a good friend, but I like June more
She clicks my "Pash"
I'm Johnny Cash

I'm off the drugs by nineteen sixty-eight
And marry June, both cause to celebrate
Get my own tv show, critics say, 'Great"
No TV trash,
I'm Johnny Cash

The "Seventies" sees my career decline
I try some acting, learn to speak a line
Civil war movie, "North and South" has shine
Critic's say "Smash!"
I'm Johnny Cash

Waylon and Willie, Kris Kristoferson
We group together, form The Highwaymen
Then, tour the country, have a lot of fun
It's a good mash,
I'm Johnny Cash

In Nineties, on my ranch in Tennessee
Just me and June, and our small son, J.C.
Write a brand new autobiography
Relax and crash,
I'm Johnny Cash

Cut new folk songs in nineteen ninety-four
For a Grammy Award, opens the door
Go on some TV shows, and act some more
I'm not yet ash,
I'm Johnny Cash

Then, in two thousand-three, Dear June will die
She was my life, my soul, my reason why
Her spirit comes to me, deep tears I cry
She was my "Pash"
I'm Johnny Cash

Just four months later, on my own death bed
Sweet glimpse of Heaven plays within my head
"I'm coming home, June" last words that I said
Close my eyelash,
I'm Johnny Cash

Close my eyelash,
I'm Johnny Cash