When I first heard Johnny Cash had died, it hit me. Not as hard as some of his other fans, because at the time, I wasn’t a huge fan. I liked a few of his songs, but it had never really made a huge impact on me. It was just another country singer my Dad listened to.

About a year after he died I started really listening to him. And of course Walk the Line made him interesting to a lot of semi-fans. His music, and especially his voice, started getting to me a lot more than it had before.

While I was shopping for March’s CD purchase, I found Cash: American IV, The Man Comes Around. This was the last album released before he died, the fourth in the series of six. The age in his voice is very prominent, but in no way takes away from anything. This album is hard to put away, I listen to it roughly five times a week ever since I bought it. It’s truly incredible.

Among the songs on American IV, is a cover of Nine Inch Nails Hurt. You’ve probably heard this if you listen to Johnny Cash at all. I think it was the last music video released before his death. It’s very powerful, and very mournful. He also covers Bridge over Troubled Water, Desperado, The Beatle’s In My Life, and a few others.

I’d like to pick up the rest of the American series. I’ve heard some of the songs from the other albums, and they sound fantastic.

“I see a lone rider crossing the plain, had he come to fetch me, and see what I’d done. And we’ll ride together to kingdom come. I pray for God’s mercy, for soon I’ll be dead, I hung my head…”