Johnny Cash left a big mark in the world. One of his most recent appearances in the news was this past spring. In a magazine interview, Rosanne Cash talked about her opposition to the impending Iraq War. "But if I learned anything from my dad--who, by the way, opposes this war more passionately than just about anyone I know--it's that if you're not willing to stand publicly behind what you believe, what good are you?"
I'm sure Rosanne wouldn't have mentioned that of him is she hadn't known he would be comfortable having her say it publicly. For Johnny - Air Force veteran, thoughtful patriot and serious Christian - the invasion of Iraq was not something he could support. Agree with him or not, that is part of his legacy, too.
Rosanne also said in that interview, with justifiable pride: "My father is a truly great artist, and a revolutionary artist, and he is going to look back at the arc of his life with that joy or pain."
One of the best tributes I've seen to Johnny was from Steve Gilliard ("Today is Already Strange" 9/12/03):
He looked like a stern Pentacostal preacher, all fire and brimstone, but beneath that face was a gentle soul. You could hear it and see it in his music. But most of all, you believed him. For years, people thought he'd been in jail because of Folsom Prison. There were no false notes in his music. His stories felt true, rang true, even if he had never lived them. He never shot anyone, but when he sang about it, you could believe it.
There's more. Read Steve's whole tribute.
I feel about Johnny's passing the way many people felt about Elvis. Like the King, Johnny touched a lot of lives. Someone special and irreplaceable has left us.
See also: Johnny Cash: September When It Comes
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