Johnny Cash

How many times have
you heard someone say.
If I had his money,
I could do things my way.
But little they know
that it's so hard to find,
One rich man in ten
with a satisfied mind.

Once I was winning
in fortune and fame.
Everything that I dreamed for,
to get a start in life's game.
Then suddenly it happened,
I lost every dime.
But I'm richer by far
with a satisfied mind.

Money cant buy back
your youth when you're old.
Or a friend when you're lonely,
or a love that's grown cold.
The wealthiest person
is a pauper at times.
Compared to the man
with a satisfied mind.

When life has ended
and my time has run out.
My friends and my loved ones
will leave, there's no doubt.
But there's one thing for certain
when it comes my time.
I'll leave this old world
with a satisfied mind.

How many times have
you heard someone say.
If I had his money,
I could do things my way.
But little they know
that it's so hard to find,
One rich man in ten
with a satisfied mind.

I will drink the cup, the poison overflowing
I will lift you up, watch over where you're going
The first one in The last one gone
I'll be the rock to stand upon
For you
For you
My spirit aches and I can't stop this river flowing
In fear I take, each labored breath I draw in knowing
That this could be my last, my final hour
But faith and hope and love give me the power
For you
For you
"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil for you are with me"
You are with me
I'll be your salvation though the storm's surrounding
There on our own conditions, lay my body down
In the wake abondon willing sacrifice
I'll walk though the canyon, bring the shadows life
For you
For you
I will drink the cup, the poison overflowing
I will lift you up watch over where you're going
The first on in the last one gone
I'll be the rock to stand upon
The first on in the, last one gone
I'll be the rock to stand upon
For you
For you
For you

Love is a burning thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I hear the train a comin'
It's rolling round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a rollin' on down to San Antone..

When I was just a baby my mama told me "Son,
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns."
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry..

I bet there's rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smoking big cigars.
Well I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a movin'
And that's what tortures me...

Well if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away...

Well, my daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
Just this ole guitar and an empty bottle of booze

Now, I don't blame him 'cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left he went and named me Sue.

Well, he musta thought that it was quite a joke,
An' it got a lot of laughs from lots a folks
Seems I had to fight my whole life through

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head
I'll tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean
My fist got hard and my wits got keen
I roamed from town to town to hide my shame

But I made me a vow to the Moon and stars
I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man that gave me that awful name

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I'd just hit town and my throat was dry
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew

In an old saloon on a street of mud
There at a table dealin' stud
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me Sue

Well I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn out picture that my mother had
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye

He was big and bent and grey and old
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold, and I said
"My name is Sue! How do you do? Now you gonna die!"
Yeah! That's what I told him

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down but to my surprise
Came up with a knife an' cut off a piece o' my ear

I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud and the blood and the beer

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile

Well, I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss
He went for his gun but I pulled mine first
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile

And he said, "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it he's gotta be tough
And I know I wouldn't be there to help you along

So I gave you that name and I said good-bye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's that name that helped to make you strong"

Yeah! He said, "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me and ya got the right
To kill me now and I wouldn't blame you if you do

But you oughta thank me before I die
For the gravel in your gut and the spit in the eye
'Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you Sue"
Yeah, what could I do? What could I do?

I got all choked up and threw down my gun
Called him my Pa and he called me his son
And I came away with a different point of view

And I think about him now and then
Every time I try and every time I win
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George, anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

Everybody knows where you go when the sun goes down.
I think you only live to see the lights of town.
I wasted my time when I would try, try, try.
When the lights have lost their glow, you're gonna cry, cry, cry.

I lie awake at night and wait 'til you come in.
You stay a little while and then you're gone again.
Every question that I ask, I get a lie, lie, lie.
For every lie you tell, you're gonna cry, cry, cry.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone,
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry.

Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone.
You'll wake up some cold day and find you're alone.
You'll call to me but I'm gonna tell you: "Bye, bye, bye,"
When I turn around and walk away, you'll cry, cry, cry,

When your fickle little love gets old, no one will care for you.
You'll come back to me for a little love that's true.
I'll tell you no and you gonna ask me why, why, why?
When I remind you of all of this, you'll cry, cry, cry.

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone,
When everyone's forgotten and you're left on your own.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry.

You're gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll want me there,
It'll hurt when you think of the fool you've been.
You're gonna cry, cry, cry.

Hey porter! Hey porter!
Would you tell me the time?
How much longer will it be till we cross
that Mason Dixon Line?
At daylight would ya tell that engineer
to slow it down?
Or better still, just stop the train,
Cause I wanna look around.

Hey porter! Hey porter!
What time did ya say?
How much longer will it be till I can
see the light of day?
When we hit Dixie will you tell that engineer
to ring his bell?
And ask everybody that ain't asleep
to stand right up and yell.

Hey porter! Hey porter!
It's getting light outside.
This old train is puffin' smoke,
and I have to strain my eyes.
But ask that engineer if he will
blow his whistle please.
Cause I smell frost on cotton leaves
and I feel that Southern breeze.

Hey porter! Hey porter!
Please get my bags for me.
I need nobody to tell me now
that we're in Tennessee.
Go tell that engineer to make that
lonesome whistle scream,
We're not so far from home
so take it easy on the steam.

Hey porter! Hey porter!
Please open up the door.
When they stop the train I'm gonna get off first
Cause I can't wait no more.
Tell that engineer I said thanks alot,
and I didn't mind the fare.
I'm gonna set my feet on Southern soil
and breathe that Southern air.

By J. Clement
Recorded by Johnny Cash on 4/9/58
Number one - Country Chart; Number eleven - Pop Chart


Well, you ask me if I'll forget my baby
I guess I will some day
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll get along
I guess I will some way
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

CHORUS:
God gave me that girl to lean on,
Then he put me on my own
Heaven help me be a man
And have the strength to stand alone
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll miss her kisses
I guess I will every day
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

You ask me if I'll find another
I don't know, I can't say
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

CHORUS:
God gave me that girl to lean on,
Then he put me on my own
Heaven help me be a man
And have the strength to stand alone
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way

San Quentin you've been living hell to me
You've blistered me since 1963
I've seen them come and go and I've seen them die
And long ago I stopped asking why

San Quentin I hate every inch of you
You've cut me and you've scarred me through and through
And I'll walk out a wiser, weaker man
Mr. Congressman, you can't you understand.

San Quentin what good do you think you do?
Do you think I'll be different when you're through?
You bend my heart & mind and you warp my soul
Your stone walls turn my blood a little cold

San Quentin may you rot and burn in hell
May your walls fall and may I live to tell
May all the world forget you ever stood
And the whole world will regret you did no good

San Quentin I hate every inch of you.

I was a highwayman. Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
But I am still alive.

I was a sailor. I was born upon the tide
And with the sea I did abide.
I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico
I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow
And when the yards broke off they said that I got killed
But I am living still.

I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide
Where steel and water did collide
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around..I'll always be around..and around and around and
around and around

I fly a starship across the Universe divide
And when I reach the other side
I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
But I will remain
And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again..