Saturday we visited the popular Johnny Cash Museum after a quick detour into a bar along the way where Bailey attempeted to fix my “tummy ache” with a Bloody Mary. Of course there was a live band and they were just hilarious, adding their own one liners to the popular cover songs they were playing! 

The Johnny Cash museum is set up as a self guided tour and it cost us $14 to enter. It started with his childhood and went all the way through his death. There were a few songs selected from each era that you could watch the “music video” (Johnny on stage singing) of. Bailey pointed out the “man in black” song which explains why he always wore black clothes: “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.”

One section of the exhibit that particularly caught my eye was the song “ragged old flag” it was written out as you can see in the image below and there was a video of him reading it.

You cant talk about Johnny with out talking about his love for June Carter. Not being the HUGEST Johnny Cash fan, I think I was drawn to the love story behind June and Johnny.

I think I took a bit of extra time in this museum because it was a place Bailey enjoyed so much. It reminded her of her younger brother, one of the few people she worried about leaving. She explained the “Man in Black” song particularly made her think of Ben, because he would always prefer to be with the “forgotten” or less paid attention to, he thought those were the real people.

“Golden Nuggets” from this stop would be:

-Johnny Cash lived a FULL life, one of fame, fortune, addiction, love, family, belief, hard work and peace.

-His love for June Carter was unlike anything else he had ever experianced. It was a true love story and she made him a better man.

They even had a few pieces from the “House of Cash” where June and Johnny lived until their death. This one in particular reminds me of my mother. Her taste is very Victorian and she often times came home from yard sales or flea markets with bold pieces such as this. 

Not that I cry anymore but if I were too, the music video of his song HURT  at the end would have gotten me.

I think I have become a fan of Mr. Cash.

-F