Johnny Cash — One
Album: American IIIAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1464
Length: 3:49
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Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You've got someone to blame?
You said
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love, we get to share it
It leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's
Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out
Into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgivness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?
Did I ask too much?
More than a lot?
You gave me nothing, now
It's all I got
We're one, but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other, and we're doin' it again
You said love is a temple
Love the higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on
To what you've got
When all you've got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sister
Brothers
One life, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One
One
One
One
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now
You've got someone to blame?
You said
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love, we get to share it
It leaves you, baby, if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's
Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out
Into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgivness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?
Did I ask too much?
More than a lot?
You gave me nothing, now
It's all I got
We're one, but we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other, and we're doin' it again
You said love is a temple
Love the higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holdin' on
To what you've got
When all you've got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sister
Brothers
One life, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One
One
One
One
Comments (230)add comment
I gained a whole new respect for Mr. Cash after he released this album. Nobody could've made him sing these great songs...so far out of his comfort zone, unless he wanted to do it.
I wonder who's playing guitar. Johnny?
Nice job.
Nice job.
Johnny owns this!
This takes one of the very few U2 songs I don't mind, and elevates it to a whole new level.
Hommage à U2 et à Dépeche Mode sur un autre titre. La class Johnny 
bluefrog wrote:
I'm really happy to see someone mention the Zooropa song, The Wanderer. Best song on that album. And I like that album, so that's not a dis on the rest of the songs on it.
What I thought was interesting about 'the Wanderer' was he starts a little stiff but as the song progresses it sounds like he's getting more into the lyrics and by the end is fully into it. I agree it's an underrated song.
I'm really happy to see someone mention the Zooropa song, The Wanderer. Best song on that album. And I like that album, so that's not a dis on the rest of the songs on it.
What I thought was interesting about 'the Wanderer' was he starts a little stiff but as the song progresses it sounds like he's getting more into the lyrics and by the end is fully into it. I agree it's an underrated song.
Laptopdog wrote:
Actually, U2 wrote a song for Johnny Cash which he sang on their 1993 release Zooropa. Johnny might not have needed them, but they certainly respected him. He obviously felt the same since he chose to record their song 7 years later on his album.
I'm really happy to see someone mention the Zooropa song, The Wanderer. Best song on that album. And I like that album, so that's not a dis on the rest of the songs on it.
Actually, U2 wrote a song for Johnny Cash which he sang on their 1993 release Zooropa. Johnny might not have needed them, but they certainly respected him. He obviously felt the same since he chose to record their song 7 years later on his album.
I'm really happy to see someone mention the Zooropa song, The Wanderer. Best song on that album. And I like that album, so that's not a dis on the rest of the songs on it.
I like this cover song but the one JC does of HURT from nine inch nails is tear jerking. I remember watching the video for the first time and the overwhelming emotions that hit me in that moment.
thewiseking wrote:
Actually, U2 wrote a song for Johnny Cash which he sang on their 1993 release Zooropa. Johnny might not have needed them, but they certainly respected him. He obviously felt the same since he chose to record their song 7 years later on his album.
This stuff introduced The Man in Black to "the hipsters". Johnny never needed them.
Actually, U2 wrote a song for Johnny Cash which he sang on their 1993 release Zooropa. Johnny might not have needed them, but they certainly respected him. He obviously felt the same since he chose to record their song 7 years later on his album.
On_The_Beach wrote:
He was dying.
But aren't we all? We have but one life.
He was dying.
But aren't we all? We have but one life.
cob427uk1 wrote:
I can't agree more! Bought this on CD... my Dad heard me playing it...I gave it to him. Bless You Johnny Cash... He Gave more for what he loved...Godlike!
The pain from Jonnys life is evident in every syllable. Love it.
I can't agree more! Bought this on CD... my Dad heard me playing it...I gave it to him. Bless You Johnny Cash... He Gave more for what he loved...Godlike!
aspicer wrote:
It's a MAJOR right turn from the magic of the original, but who has more authority and experience to sing it than JC?!
So very true. (anonymous) wrote:
He was dying.
I don't know, that voice just makes me want to cringe. He sounds like he is dying. I can't take it.
He was dying.
The pain from Jonnys life is evident in every syllable. Love it.
Trash
It's a MAJOR right turn from the magic of the original, but who has more authority and experience to sing it than JC?!
At this stage in his career/life it almost didn't matter what Johnny did.
And that is as it should be.
And that is as it should be.
Johnny cash is a 9 or above
Ulises wrote:
I'm with you there, Ulises, and while most of Mr. Cash's work isn't in my private playlist, I was able to identify it as him in ONE note....didn't dawn on me what the orig song was until he started singing.....and boy he fucking owned the shit out if this.....it's an 8....Long Live RP!!
mZk wrote:
Oh god, this is one is awful 
mZk,
I believe in your right to a different opinion on this or any other tune.
But listen to Mr. Cash's voice. Can you not here the hurt of a lifetime coming through?
Call me sentimental, but the Man in Black often makes me stop and weep.
I'm with you there, Ulises, and while most of Mr. Cash's work isn't in my private playlist, I was able to identify it as him in ONE note....didn't dawn on me what the orig song was until he started singing.....and boy he fucking owned the shit out if this.....it's an 8....Long Live RP!!
This stuff introduced The Man in Black to "the hipsters". Johnny never needed them.
First thought: "Bill, is it you??"
bravo...
I guess Cash could make anything sound decent!
... what a cover version! Marveleous!
Great song.
Wonderful artist.
Johnny Cash is one of the greats I wish I had been able see before his departure.
Wonderful artist.
Johnny Cash is one of the greats I wish I had been able see before his departure.
Ulises wrote:
...
Call me sentimental, but the Man in Black often makes me stop and weep.
...thank you for that bit of honesty - Cash was special, wasn't he?
I really wish I could give this one another 10.
mZk wrote:
Oh god, this is one is awful
mZk,
I believe in your right to a different opinion on this or any other tune.
But listen to Mr. Cash's voice. Can you not here the hurt of a lifetime coming through?
Call me sentimental, but the Man in Black often makes me stop and weep.
exeter wrote:
... In fact, I read an interview somewhere with Trent Reznor where he says he no longer considers it his song -- it belongs to Johnny now.
https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7378167/in_other_words_trent_reznor
I really like J.Cash, but hearing this makes me sad. I don't much like his cover of this tune. I like his older / classic stuff.
there is no higher compliment than the man in black covering your song...
Ick.
Oh god, this is one is awful
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Some people hate covers. I personally tend to like them. This is pretty good, though not Cash's best cover. That would be his cover of ''Hurt.''
Yeah, I agree, overall. This is one of his better covers, but definitely not his best. Still quite good, though.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Some people hate covers. I personally tend to like them. This is pretty good, though not Cash's best cover. That would be his cover of ''Hurt.''
I've got to agree with your choice. In fact, I read an interview somewhere with Trent Reznor where he says he no longer considers it his song -- it belongs to Johnny now.
Better than U2, but then again I have never been too impressed by U2. JC is amazing, but you can tell he is stretching in this cover. Wish he was 40 years old now, and had tried this at 35.
Side note: Bono and U2 are amazing because they have been around for 30 years cranking out hits. How long was Johnny Cash around? Just something to think about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the first time a cover of a song made me reevaluate the original. I'd never really listened to the lyrics until I heard Cash sing them. Now that I know what the song is about, I think it's fantastic and I love both versions
I feel the same. This version changed what I thought of the original. I enjoy both now.
Woot! Another 10 for the Man in Black (R.I.P.).
To answer your question Bill: no, that last song sucked.
Where's the LRC this awful song again??
No, its not a teleprompter. JC sounds that way because he's doing this cover at an advanced age after performing for decades and his voice is just a fraction of what it once was. But it still grabs me every time.
kaz wrote:
I love Hurt as an awesome cover that dramatically improves on the original with more passion. This, however, is a disppointing cover of one of my favorite tracks of all time.
It sounds to me like he's reading it off a teleprompter...
I love Hurt as an awesome cover that dramatically improves on the original with more passion. This, however, is a disppointing cover of one of my favorite tracks of all time.
It sounds to me like he's reading it off a teleprompter...
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Some people hate covers. I personally tend to like them. This is pretty good, though not Cash's best cover. That would be his cover of ''Hurt.''
Wow I really like this :D But the original is definitely better. I love the emotion U2 pours into the song. Have to agree with you that Hurt is definitely a better cover by Cash.
This is the first time a cover of a song made me reevaluate the original. I'd never really listened to the lyrics until I heard Cash sing them. Now that I know what the song is about, I think it's fantastic and I love both versions.
Quite Likeable.
SpamNRice wrote:
A man coming to terms with the end of his life... it's all in the voice and it's all good. RIP JC. 
"Have you come here to play 'Jeeezus'" has great inflection, as always with JC.
When you hear Mr. Cash singing this song, you know he means it! RIP
hanssachs wrote:
I like it ... Johnny's is the voice I hear when the U2 version starts up ...
Wow, that would be awful! I'm sorry to hear it.
Some people hate covers. I personally tend to like them. This is pretty good, though not Cash's best cover. That would be his cover of ''Hurt.''
hippiechick wrote:
What is this? Bad cover time?
i love cash. but not this cover. not as bad as
The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
What is this? Bad cover time?
Just because JC sings it doesn't mean it's automatically good.
It's not just that he had lost his voice at this point. He seems too tired to sing it. Or he doesn't believe in what he's singing.
Bono's version is majestic. This isn't, even though it's from one of the great artists of all time.
Bill's playing a string of songs that are either excellent covers or were covered excellently by others. And there aren't enough ASCII hearts in the world for this one by Johnny.
Newbie.
BillnDollarBaby wrote:
And this is the playlist from 9.5.2007...
10:27 pm - Johnny Cash - One
10:23 pm - The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
10:19 pm - Iggy Pop - The Passenger
10:13 pm - Jackson Browne - Late For The Sky
10:10 pm - Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
10:07 pm - Hank Williams - Ramblin Man
Shesdifferent wrote:
this follow up to the B good Tanya's just nailed in the coffin.
yup
this follow up to the B good Tanya's just nailed in the coffin.
I like it ... Johnny's is the voice I hear when the U2 version starts up ...
Just don't know on this one. Yeah it is good, guess just use to the slower pace of the org song.
What a set . . .
3:54 pm - Johnny Cash - One
3:50 pm - The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
3:46 pm - Iggy Pop - The Passenger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3:40 pm - Jackson Browne - Late For The Sky
3:37 pm - Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
3:34 pm - Hank Williams - Ramblin Man
A god-awful cover? Are you kidding me? This is mint!!! Long live Johnny...
A man coming to terms with the end of his life... it's all in the voice and it's all good. RIP JC.
I've never actually listened to this song as done by the origibnal band. it's not bad at all.
Bill,
I like Johnny Cash as well as The Be Good Tanyas but you've got to stop playing these God awful covers!!! 
laozilover wrote:
Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version.... 
Maybe it's that you've heard the U2 version but this is so completely different that you haven't connected the 2 versions. (Otherwise it's kind of one of those living-under-a-rock things...)
Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version.... davin wrote:
Cool how we hear a really bad cover (The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry)
I think the Be Good Tanyas cover is very good.
ruthless wrote:
I totally agree!!
I second that. I am a loyal JC fan; but he misses something here. Which is actually unusual for Johnny, one of the reasons I love Johnny Cash is because of his authenticity in his songs. Bono all the way on this song!
Cool how we hear a really bad cover (The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry) and then it is immediately contrasted with a very good cover (this one). Really separates the beginners from the masters.
UltraNurd wrote:
I like Johnny's series of covers; Hurt is amazing, for one. This One... good, but not great.
Agreed...but this one is just not good...id leff dis reviewer collld.
tiggers wrote:
It is U2's defining moment.
I disagree. Sunday Bloody Sunday.
This song is not about a couple breaking up.
Bono has said numerous times in interviews it's about a son coming out as gay to his father. In that light, the lyrics are significantly more poignant than another breakup song.
tiggers wrote:
I like Johnny Cash I really do, but his version of this song is stripped of the emotion it so richly needs.
You lot can call Bono's vocals whiny or whatever you like, but he sings this song with so much feeling and emotion I dont think anyone else should bother covering it. It is U2's defining moment.
Amen. Comparing Johnny Cash to U2 is apples and oranges. They both have their own style and they both have huge followings. Whether you prefer Cash or prefer U2 or like them both or don't care for either, one thing is clear: This cover didn't need to happen and just doesn't work.
If you ask me, anyway.
I like Johnny's series of covers; Hurt is amazing, for one. This One... good, but not great.
This leaves a bad taste in my mouth
I'm sorry by Johnny Cash doesn't do this song justice...I have to stick to the original. 
Keep on breakin' my heart, Johnny.
laozilover wrote: Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version....
That's an impressive feat of popular music dodging :o).
Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version.... Please don't torture me anymore-pleeezzzz This 'One' gets a 1, only the guitar is acceptable.
tiggers wrote:
I like Johnny Cash I really do, but his version of this song is stripped of the emotion it so richly needs.
You lot can call Bono's vocals whiny or whatever you like, but he sings this song with so much feeling and emotion I dont think anyone else should bother covering it. It is U2's defining moment.
I totally agree!!
laozilover wrote: Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version....
Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version....
Gee, I don't think I've ever heard the U2 version.... I like Johnny Cash I really do, but his version of this song is stripped of the emotion it so richly needs.
You lot can call Bono's vocals whiny or whatever you like, but he sings this song with so much feeling and emotion I dont think anyone else should bother covering it. It is U2's defining moment.
I never appreciated how good the lyrics were until Johnny actually sang them intelligibly and with no whining.
Damn, what a set...
Good song without the overwrought Bono vocals.
IceNine wrote:
I agree that a lot of U2 songs can be cryptic, but this one is pretty easy. It's about a couple breaking up... which is pretty ironic considering so many people play this song at weddings.
There is no accounting for people's taste. At bar trivia recently, a question was name five of the top ten songs at British Funerals in the year 2000. We got maybe 2 of 5 correct. But one of the answers was "Every Breath You Take" by the Police. And our team was like "what the !^#$^? That song is about a guy stalking his ex. Puff Daddy respun it for his own purposes in memory of Biggie Smalls: "I'll Be Missing You". If you were going to play either version at a funeral, I think it would be the latter. What the devil.
I dunno...Some of these covers Cash just seems to NAIL but the tempo and everything seems wrong on this one.
Whereas the U2 version throbs and builds this rambles along without the kind of pathos Johnny can usually inject.
Clearly it doesn't suck but it's not on par with the original.
TJ
Shesdifferent wrote:
Awful!
Nice.
I can't listen to this song without my eyes burning with tears....regardless of who is performing the cover. Man...the reality hurts like hell.
Johnny Cash could sing the phone book with more pure emotion than 99% of the musicians out there today.
hey JC JC ...
enjoying this alot
Awful!
Powerfully emotive in its Cash rawness. A different style of emotion than Bono brought out of this song, but different is not to be judged as better or worse. JC sings only of what he feels, and it is clear that he felt this truth deeply.
Couldn't care less about any meaning, hidden or not, just really enjoying this version. 
JCEntMan wrote:
I did a little digging as I couldn't believe this song would be that simple...turns out this song is a lot more complicated and interesting than just being about a couple breaking up.
Click here to see a listing of 12 different potential meanings to this song.
My original statement, that the song is about a break-up, does over-simplify its meaning, however it is one of the two most unpretentious explanations for that song I've heard (the second being that it's about how U2 itself nearly fell apart during the recording of that album). You can find a quote about it on the page you linked to:
'It amazes me when people tell me they played it at their wedding or for comfort at a funeral,' Bono says. 'I go to myself, "Are you crazy? It's about breaking up." ' (Los Angeles Times, 8:th of August 2004)
However, as the page indicates, there are many different interpretations for this song, all of them valid. U2 as a band and as individuals, carry a lot of baggage (hence the album title All That You Can't Leave Behind, which is also open to interpretation), so there is alot of stuff that can creep into their songs intentionally and subconsciously. Bono often creates images with words, rather than clearly defined stories, so a song that to one person is about a couple breaking-up, can be about a divided Germany to another (the fact that U2 recorded this song in Berlin adds to this interpretation), or within the context of a music video can for another person be about AIDS, or about Bono and his father.
For me, it's about a break-up because I've been in and broken out of the kind of relationship that is described in this song. For me, every line of this song connects with the emotions I was experiencing in that relationship, all except for the final verse, which opens itself up to hope and to that "Brotherhood of Man" that someone else mentioned. That I have found in other lasting and fulfilling relationships.
IceNine wrote:
I agree that a lot of U2 songs can be cryptic, but this one is pretty easy. It's about a couple breaking up... which is pretty ironic considering so many people play this song at weddings.
I did a little digging as I couldn't believe this song would be that simple...turns out this song is a lot more complicated and interesting than just being about a couple breaking up.
Click here to see a listing of 12 different potential meanings to this song.
IceNine wrote:
I agree that a lot of U2 songs can be cryptic, but this one is pretty easy. It's about a couple breaking up... which is pretty ironic considering so many people play this song at weddings.
Maybe not so easy...i think it's about the Brotherhood of Man. Always puts a lump in my throat.
yup...this isn't one of cash's finest moments.
EthicalDilemma wrote:
Hitting mute now
Ditto
HUMmmmm i don't know what to think ....
Oscar
Dreadful.
Absolutely dreadful.
Hitting mute now
CRAZY..... F......G CRAZY !
iTuner wrote:
Just like Social Distortion shouldn't have done Ring of Fire, the same is true here. Mr. Cash should have left this to Bono.
Apparently, we have fallen victim to the same set list. :barf:
kazuma wrote:
I don't get it. What does Saddam's lawyer have to do with this?
He could argue for mitigated butchery.
Don't try to analyze this too deeply.
iTuner wrote:
Ask Saddam's lawyer.
I don't get it. What does Saddam's lawyer have to do with this?
gtm256 wrote:
I disagree. He doesn't have Bono's vocal prowess, but he brings himself to the table. Which I think does make it interesting.
What is this song about anyway? U2 songs are always so cryptic.
I agree that a lot of U2 songs can be cryptic, but this one is pretty easy. It's about a couple breaking up... which is pretty ironic considering so many people play this song at weddings.
kazuma wrote:
Would mitigated butchery be more acceptable? Just curious.
Ask Saddam's lawyer.
raelic wrote:
Unmitigated butchery, shameful.
Would mitigated butchery be more acceptable? Just curious.
Just like Social Distortion shouldn't have done Ring of Fire, the same is true here. Mr. Cash should have left this to Bono.
I like Cash and U2, just not in this mix.
Leviathan wrote:
Nice version
Like listening to poetry...
You guys at RP at the friggin Ninja Masters of playists.
Nice version
Like listening to poetry...
You guys at RP at the friggin Ninja Masters of playists.
nice link , johnny cash cover after a cover of johnny cash..yeaaahhhh.
jah_blessed wrote:
I like Cash, but his cover versions are hit-and-miss affairs. This is nowhere near as good as the original, nor is it an interesting variation.
I disagree. He doesn't have Bono's vocal prowess, but he brings himself to the table. Which I think does make it interesting.
What is this song about anyway? U2 songs are always so cryptic.
Unmitigated butchery, shameful.
Personally, I love both covers and guys with shaky voices--which oddly enough means I frequently prefer Dylan originals to covers--so this is great for me.
I like Cash, but his cover versions are hit-and-miss affairs. This is nowhere near as good as the original, nor is it an interesting variation.
I call TAPE! 