Strange Song; "The Man comes Around"

[bigsleepj]

Here's a rather odd song from Johnny Cash. Very strange lyrics. What is your oppinion.

The Man Comes Around
written by Johnny R Cash

(Recited)
And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder:
One of the four beasts saying: "Come and see."
And I saw.
And behold, a white horse.

(Sung)
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names.
An' he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There'll be a golden ladder reaching down.
When the man comes around.

The hairs on your arm will stand up.
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
For you partake of that last offered cup,
Or disappear into the potter's ground.
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Till Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom.
Then the father hen will call his chickens home.
The wise men will bow down before the throne.
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crown.
When the man comes around.

Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still.
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still.
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still.
Listen to the words long written down,
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

In measured hundredweight and penny pound.
When the man comes around.

(Recited)
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts,
And I looked and behold: a pale horse.
And his name, that sat on him, was Death.
And Hell follwed with him.

[martinloyola]

intrigueing interesting ingenious incomprhensible

errrrr....something like that......

[bigsleepj]

intrigueing interesting ingenious incomprhensible

errrrr....something like that......

I believe that your statement sums up the song. It makes perfect sense...and yet does not.

[GracefulRocker]

It's an ok song. My dad has the cd. It's about the 2nd coming of Jesus. Remember, Johnny was a product of the depression, and has lived a hard life. (He was an alcoholic and a druggie for various periods of time.) He writes from his heart and soul; something that you have to have experienced real suffering todo, and sometimes even to understand. But, even though he's old, and sounds sorta tone-deaf, it's a good OLD -old-school gospel song.

[Stephen]

"But, even though he's old, and sounds sorta tone-deaf,"

I take it you fail to realise that Johnny Cash is no longer with us...he passed away a while back, right before he died he set up a great 2 disk cd thing....oddly, only the man in black would basicly sing his own epitaf. RIP Johnny.

[bigsleepj]

[quote="GracefulRocker"]It's an ok song. My dad has the cd. It's about the 2nd coming of Jesus. Remember, Johnny was a product of the depression, and has lived a hard life. (He was an alcoholic and a druggie for various periods of time.) He writes from his heart and soul]

Well, his voice was going in most of the songs from that CD. I read somewhere he was sick while recording most of them and it was one of the last CD he produced before dying. But his best CDs are "Folsom Prison Blues" and "God", a collection of his favourite gospel and spiritual songs.

[Zedian]

Yeah I remeber that song, I actually have "When the Man Comes Around". "Hurt" was just an awesome song, funny thing is I never LIKED Nine Inch Nails but his cover was brillant. R.I.P. dear ol' Johnny.

[Omega Amen]

I always like Johnny Cash's songs. He seemed to always bare his soul to the audience each time he sung.... Very touching.

[GracefulRocker]

WHOA!!! Johnny-boy died?! When??????