January 14, 2005
My Mother's Hymnbook
Well, they never mentioned THIS one on the bio shows of Cash's career. This came out last year and I had never heard about it. Just happened to pass by the Cash section and saw it at Best Buy. This is a great album for people like me who grew up learning hymns: not just How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace - but the fun songs like I'll Fly Away and When the Roll is Called up Yonder, and touching songs like In the Garden and Softly and Tenderly. Listening to Cash's aged yet rich voice singing about a land where we're never grow old and the final words of the CD, "I come," is really touching, especially knowing he recorded these in a time where he was obviously declining.
Here's the track list. It's a lot of great stuff I haven't heard in YEARS.
1. Where We'll Never Grow Old
2. I Shall Not Be Moved
3. I Am a Pilgrim
4. Do Lord
5. When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
6. If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven
7. I'll Fly Away
8. Where the Soul of Man Never Dies
9. Let the Lower Lights Be Running
10. When He Reached Down
11. In the Sweet By and By
12. I'm Bound for the Promised Land
13. In the Garden
14. Softly and Tenderly
15. Just as I Am
I've finally begun listening to Cash recently. I never realized before what a big role his faith played in his music. I wish I had appreciated him more before he passed away.
Posted by: Kyle on January 14, 2005 11:19 AMOne of the great things about Cash was his cross-generational appeal. A few years ago when the whole family got together for Christmas, my brother threw on a Johnny Cash CD...and there was my grandmother and my parents all singing along about a Boy Named Sue or a Ring of Fire. I can't think of any other songs besides hymns that everyone would now. This album seems like a great combination of those two things. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll have to go look for it now.
Posted by: Julie on January 14, 2005 03:18 PMIf you move to Missouri you can hear these songs every Sunday! Heh.
Posted by: brendoman on January 18, 2005 08:19 PMHey, Jeri! I just (re)discovered your blog. What a fine post this is. Johnny Cash is indeed the man. To Kyle, Cash's music has always been laced with spiritual themes and outright declarations of faith. While the usual "greatest hits" album may not have them, many of his albums have incredible tales of faith, sin and redeption. Good stuff.
Posted by: Doug on January 27, 2005 07:47 PM