Songs of Our Soil
Encyclopedia
Songs of Our Soil is the sixth album by the singer Johnny Cash
. It was originally released in September 1959 (see 1959 in music
), but later re-issued on August 27, 2002 (see 2002 in music
) with two bonus track
s.
The album is something of a curiosity in that a majority of the songs involve dying. Death concludes "The Man on the Hill," "Hank and Joe and Me," "Clementine," and "My Grandfather's Clock." "Don't Step on Mother's Roses" is about a family losing their parents to death; first Mother, then Daddy. "The Great Speckled Bird" is a spiritual about the Second Coming of Jesus. "The Caretaker" is the story of a cemetery caretaker wondering who will mourn for him when his time comes. Even "Five Feet High and Rising" ("the hives are gone; I lost my bees") and "Old Apache Squaw" ("...the next white man that sees my face is gonna be a dead white man") mention death in some way.
By his own admission, Cash was becoming fascinated by death during this time, in part due to his growing amphetamine
and barbiturate
dependence.
Additional personnel
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
. It was originally released in September 1959 (see 1959 in music
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
), but later re-issued on August 27, 2002 (see 2002 in music
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) with two bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
s.
The album is something of a curiosity in that a majority of the songs involve dying. Death concludes "The Man on the Hill," "Hank and Joe and Me," "Clementine," and "My Grandfather's Clock." "Don't Step on Mother's Roses" is about a family losing their parents to death; first Mother, then Daddy. "The Great Speckled Bird" is a spiritual about the Second Coming of Jesus. "The Caretaker" is the story of a cemetery caretaker wondering who will mourn for him when his time comes. Even "Five Feet High and Rising" ("the hives are gone; I lost my bees") and "Old Apache Squaw" ("...the next white man that sees my face is gonna be a dead white man") mention death in some way.
By his own admission, Cash was becoming fascinated by death during this time, in part due to his growing amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
and barbiturate
Barbiturate
Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, as hypnotics, and as anticonvulsants...
dependence.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Johnny Cash; except where indicated- "Drink to Me" – 1:54
- "Five Feet High and Rising" – 1:46
- "The Man on the Hill" – 2:09
- "Hank and Joe and Me" – 2:13
- "Clementine" (Billy MizeBilly MizeBilly Mize is a steel guitarist, band leader, vocalist, songwriter, and TV show host.-Biography:...
, Buddy Mize) – 2:30 - "Great Speckled BirdThe Great Speckled Bird (song)"The Great Speckled Bird" is a Southern hymn whose lyrics were written by the Reverend Guy Smith. It is an allegory referencing Fundamentalist self-perception during the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy. The song is in the form of AABA and has a 12 bar count...
" (Traditional) – 2:09 - "I Want to Go Home" – 1:58
- "The Caretaker" – 2:06
- "Old Apache Squaw" – 1:46
- "Don't Step on Mother's Roses" – 2:34
- "My Grandfather's ClockMy Grandfather's Clock"My Grandfather's Clock" is a song written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work, the author of "Marching Through Georgia". It is a standard of British brass bands and colliery bands, and is also popular in bluegrass music.-Origin of the song:...
" (Henry Clay WorkHenry Clay WorkHenry Clay Work was an American composer and songwriter.-Biography:He was born in Middletown, Connecticut, to Alanson and Amelia Work. His father opposed slavery, and Work was himself an active abolitionist and Union supporter...
) – 2:45 - "It Could Be You (Instead of Him)" (Vic McAlpin) – 1:50
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - Arranger, Guitar, Vocals, Main Performer
- Luther PerkinsLuther PerkinsLuther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
- Electric Guitar - Marshall GrantMarshall GrantMarshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist Luther Perkins played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland...
- Bass guitar - Marvin Hughes - Piano
- Morris Palmer - Drums
- Buddy HarmanBuddy HarmanBuddy Harman was an American session musician.-Career:Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Connie Francis, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Roger Miller,...
- Drums on "Drink to Me" - The JordanairesThe JordanairesThe Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, which formed as a gospel group in 1948. They are best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley, in live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972...
- Background vocals
Additional personnel
- Don Law - Original Recording Producer
- Al Quaglieri - Reissue Producer
- Seth Foster - Engineer
- Mark Wilder - Mastering, Mixing
- Billy Altman - Liner Notes
- Don Hunstein - Photography
- Steven Berkowitz - A&R
- Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
- Randall Martin - Design
- John Christiana - Packaging Manager
Charts
Singles - Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | "Five Feet High and Rising" | Country Singles | 14 |
| 1959 | "Five Feet High and Rising" | Pop Singles | 76 |