The American Recordings: Delia's Gone

 "Delia's Gone" is a song about a narrator murdering his girlfriend. He never gives a specific reason why, other than Delia being "low down and triflin,'....cold and mean, kind of evil..." I'm pretty sure there are better reasons for shooting someone, but hey, it is what it is.

The narrator is in jail, relaying his story to the jailer. He is haunted by the memory of Delia, can even hear her footsteps by his bed. His words seem to show no remorse, but his dreams tell a different story.

Johnny Cash is known for his gritty crime songs. He pulls no punches, just tell a story the way a journalist would. There's no moralizing, no explaining. Cash just tells you what happened and how it feels to experience it.

Cash originally recorded "Delia's Gone" in 1962. It has more of the traditional Cash sound--the twangy, old country sound that made him famous. The American recording is more stripped down, just Cash and his guitar. I prefer the 2004 version by a wide margin.

"Delia's Gone" is the type of sad, lonesome song that I always identify with Johnny Cash. It's the perfect start to the American Recordings.

Intro: The American Recordings

Johnny Cash and the American Recordings

In 1994, Johnny Cash collaborated with legendary producer Rick Rubin on an interesting project. Rubin wanted to record Johnny Cash, and only Cash. Just the legendary Man in Black and his guitar. They set up in Cash's living room and recorded the album, with the exception of two songs, which were recorded in Johnny Depp's nightclub the Viper Room.

The album was a critical and commercial success, leading to a career resurgence for Cash. He went on to record five more albums with Rubin, the last two being released posthumously.

Over the next few months, I'm going to break down some of the songs from every album. Some of the posts might be really short, and others might be long. It'll just depend on how much I have to say about each track.

The American Recordings are some of the most influential albums of the last twenty years. It brought Johnny Cash back into the national conscience and reminded the music industry that success could be simple. I'm excited to delve into the history, theology, and culture behind some of these songs. I hope you enjoy.

Next: Delia's Gone