David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

johnny cash: God’s gonna cut you down

I’m a big fan of Johnny Cash. I’ve got a bunch of his music, read his autobiography, and loved Walk the Line. There’s just something about that voice that gets into my bones.

The man in black recorded prolifically right up to his death. One of his last albums, American V: A Hundred Highways, contains the spooky God’s Gonna Cut You Down. Here are the lyrics:

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down

Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head’s been wet with the midnight dew
I’ve been down on bended knee talkin’ to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel’s feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, “John go do My will!”

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light

Now check out the video for the song. I’m absolutely fascinated by the use of some of our most popular celebrities singing this song. I couldn’t tell you exactly what the director of the video was hoping to communicate, but I think there is something significant being said here.

Bonus points: How many people in the video did you recognize. I’m embarrassed to admit to how few I know.

David Swanson

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2 responses to “johnny cash: God’s gonna cut you down”

  1. Larry Eisner Avatar
    Larry Eisner

    Honestly, you should probably be proud of how few you knew! That means you’re not caught up in the celebrity-sighting culture we’re all so enamored with lately… Sadly, I can recognize all but perhaps 4-5 people…

    Some that I saw for sure:

    Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrellson (sp.?), Johnny Depp, Cheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Bono, both frontmen of ZZ Top, Thom Yorke, Khris Kristofferson, Flea, Justin Timberlake, Anthony Kiedis (had to look up the name, but I knew he was the lead singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers :), Lisa Marie Presley?, I thought I saw Jay-Z in there too, and I’m not 100% but I think that Gary Busey was in there too, near the end…

    Actually watching it again, I realize it was more than 4-5, but I’m proud that the ones I don’t know are the women! 🙂 In that selfish “I’m not as bad a sinner as THAT guy who follows those ladies” kinda way, lol…

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  2. Ray K Avatar
    Ray K

    Johnny Cash had some pretty accurate theology – all people will someday answer to God and the “man from Galilee.” I certainly hope the truth of Johnny’s lyrics penetrate the bones of those in the video. I probably recognized half of the people. It is fascinating how musically simple the song is, yet how powerful.

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