One of the few country singers who can stand up and be counted as a man who truly lived his music is clearly Johnny Cash.  Often we are bombarded with songs that tell tales of woe and strife from the voices of men and women who clearly have no idea what it is to live under such circumstance. While we can hardly blame them for putting out music that essentially resonates with what many of us are or have lived with so far, it certainly establishes a deeper connection with the artists when we known they are talking from personal experience. Right from his childhood, Johnny Cash lived the life of many of the most downtrodden in the country. Brought up in a family that suffered economically and from death within the family, he seemed to pour much of his life’s blood into his music.

Even as he became a commercial and critical success in the music industry, it was clear that Johnny still struggled with his life choices. Like many great artists he became addicted to the use of drugs, particularly illegal narcotics and eventually prescription drugs. He was in fact severally arrested for being in possession of these drugs. It was unsurprising that just like many of the same great artists some of his greatest works came out while he was in fact addicted. Over his life he repeatedly kicked and fell back into his drug habit. This struggle that often came to be publicized by the media made the darkness to his lyrics ring true. And johnny cash lyrics ran deep with feelings of regret, struggle and stubbornness. His declining health and dark demeanor helped to reinforce this image. It was perhaps this recognition that he could identify with his fans personal struggles that made his music such a hit across more genres than just country.