The man in black was my favorite, and I feel like a close friend has died.
R.I.P., Mr. Cash.
Well, if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move on over 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.
Looks like he is freed from his prison, and has moved farther down the line.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
"Man in White" is a wonderful book and is my absolute favorite.
From Amazon.com reviews:
Covering a six-year period in the life of St. Paul in Roman-ruled Judea, Cash weaves a fascinating story of Saul's (Paul's) single-minded, zealous persecution of the early Christians through his conversion on the road to Damascus. Saul is portrayed as a man driven by what he sees as his "divine" mission, the extermination of this despicable Nazarene sect. However, with his conversion, all his fanaticism and energies turn to the spreading of "the word" to the gentiles. This well-researched novel breathes life into Paul, High Priest Annas, the pharisees, apostles, and the other characters who populate Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Readers will experience their fears and doubts, aspirations and triumphs as Cash probes the motivations behind their actions. While the repetition of religious phrases and doctrine tends to slow the last third of the book, Cash's interpretation and writing style make the characters and times come alive.
John Lawson , Fairfax County Public Library, Va.
Well written, this book, which was titled to be a play on words of Cash's autobiography titled Man in Black, draws you into Paul's life from a fictional 1st person perspective, and is at all times totally believable and spiritually uplifting. I highly recommend this book for Christians and non-Christians alike. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print
On another thread, ladtx posted the link to WSM Online.
They're playing his music today; thought you would be interested.
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black, Why you never see bright colors on my back, And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone. Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town, I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read, Or listened to the words that Jesus said, About the road to happiness through love and charity, Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose, In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes, But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back, Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old, For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold, I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been, Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died, Believen' that the Lord was on their side, I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died, Believen' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know, And things need changin' everywhere you go, But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right, You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day, And tell the world that everything's OK, But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back, 'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
Thank you Mr. Cash, you were a one of a kind, and a class act.
-From Gordon Lightfoot's song, Drink Yer Glasses Empty"We'd love to take life over that is plain
Forget about sorrow--forget about pain
And watch a John Wayne movie to remind us once again
Better drink yer glasses empty now it's time t' hit the line
You got one less cause in the world to be leaving for
Drink yer glasses girls and boys it's time t' hit the sky
To the tune of thunder there's a tear in every eye"
Godspeed, Johnny. You'll never need to replace a broken string on THAT harp.