Life is the question and life is the answer, and God is the reason and love is the way.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

I recently found myself going through a period of uncertainty about my future as a performer, my status as a personality, the believability of my Christian witness and the knowledge of God’s will in my life. I felt a force bigger than myself saying, ‘Lay back. Take it easy. Study hard. Read your bible. Think, write and keep your mouth shut for awhile.’

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

Gospel music was the thing that inspired me as a child growing up on a cotton farm, where work was drudgery and it was so hard that when I was in the field I sang all the time. Usually gospel songs because they lifted me up above that black dirt.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

My way of communicating with God as a boy (and often even now) was through the lyrics of a song. . . . So I didn’t have the problem some people do who say, “I don’t know how to pray.” I used the songs to communicate with God. . . . To me, songs were the telephone to heaven, and I tied up the line quite a bit.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

I love songs about horses, railroads, land, Judgment Day, family, hard times, whiskey, courtship, marriage, adultery, separation, murder, war, prison, rambling, damnation, home, salvation, death, pride, humor, piety, rebellion, patriotism, larceny, determination, tragedy, rowdiness, heartbreak and love. And Mother. And God.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

Gospel music is so ingrained into my bones. I can’t do a concert without singing a gospel song. It’s what I was raised on.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

My mother was determined that I was going to leave the farm and do well in life. And she thought with the gift, I might be able to do that. So she took in washing. She got a washing machine in 1942 as soon as we got electricity and she took in washing. She washed the schoolteacher’s clothes and anybody she could and sent me for singing lessons for $3 per lesson.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

I sang those old gospel songs for my mother, and she said, is that you? And I said, yes, ma’am. And she came over and put her arms around me and said, God’s got his hands on you.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on you. You’ll be singing for the world someday.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)

My mother always told me that any talent is a gift of God and I always believed it. If I quit, I would just live in front of the television and get fat and die pretty soon.

Johnny Cash (Musician, 1932 – 2003)