Top 10 Best Songs by Johnny Cash

Originally by Nine Inch Nails, but Johnny Cash stole it. Recorded shortly before his death. You hear a man who looks back on a life full of pain and regret. His voice is broken and trembles. The buildup to the climax ("I will let you down") is devastating. It is no longer music, it is pure human suffering and farewell. Perhaps the most emotional cover ever made.

One of the last songs he wrote. A biblical vision of the Last Judgment. The piano ticks ominously and the guitars twang. Cash sounds like an old prophet sharing his vision. It is frightening and majestic. It is about death that eventually comes for everyone. An impressive testament.

The ultimate "outlaw" song. The line "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" is one of the coldest in music history. The train sound in the rhythm pushes the song forward. The live version, recorded in the prison, is full of energy and rebellion. Cash sings for the prisoners as if he is one of them. Raw and genuine.

The Mexican trumpets make this instantly recognizable. Written by June Carter about her forbidden love for Johnny. It is about the dangerous, all-consuming power of love. "I fell into a burning ring of fire." Cash sings it with a deep, stoic calm, while the music around him burns. An absolute classic.

His first big hit and a promise of loyalty to his first wife. The distinctive "hmm-hmm" at the beginning was to find the right pitch. The guitar line is unique and the rhythm compelling. It is about the struggle to stay on the right path, a struggle Cash would face his entire life. A monument of country music.

His protest song and signature song. Cash explains why he always wears black: for the poor, the prisoners, and the soldiers dying in war. It is a simple song with a powerful message of solidarity. He uses his platform to speak for people who have no voice. Honorable and tough.

Written by Kris Kristofferson, but Cash lived this song. It is about the loneliness and hangover of a Sunday morning. The lyrics are painfully vivid: the smell of fried bacon, the sound of church bells, and the feeling of not belonging anywhere. Cash sings it with a weariness you feel in your bones. The hangover of existence.

The chemistry between Johnny and his great love June leaps out. It is about a married couple trying to find passion again (or just challenging each other). They sing playfully and teasingly to each other. It is fiery, funny, and full of spirit. You hear the sparks flying. The ultimate country duet.

An apocalyptic cowboy song. The melody is threatening and gallops like a runaway herd of cattle. The brass gives it an epic, western feel. Cash sings with his darkest voice about damned souls in the sky. It is spooky and cinematic. A song that perfectly captures the myth of the Wild West.

Recorded live in San Quentin prison. It is a hilarious story about a boy who got a girl's name from his father to make him tough. You hear the prisoners laugh and cheer in the background. Cash tells the story with so much humor and timing. It showcases his talent as a storyteller and entertainer perfectly.