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 downWell 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 W. Swanson 
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