October 1, 2013, 12:54 pm | In
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Johnny Cash wrote and sang some silly songs that very few people could have pulled off the way he did. Usually when you declare a song silly it is almost a polite method of saying that the song isn't very good. But that isn't the case with these songs. These are truly silly songs but they are also great songs that are fun to listen to. So, what songs am I writing about? Here's a partial list of my favorites...
A Boy Named Sue - If this isn't a silly song then I don't know what is. Come on, a boy named Sue? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when this song was being pitched. Verbally it sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, but Cash turned it in to one of his most recognizable and popular songs of all time. Who doesn't know A Boy Named Sue? And who doesn't like the song? It is a great song; a great silly song.
The One on the Right is on the Left - Another silly song that made it to number two on the country charts in 1966. The lyrics are hilarious and Cash's ability to sing you a story really helps to make this another silly song to listen to while you hear about a band of folk singers with different political views. A true classic!
Nasty Dan - A funny song from the Johnny Cash Children's Album released in 1975. Being on a children's album you would expect the song to be silly, and it definitely delivers. You won't be disappointed no matter your age; this 45 year old is not ashamed to admit that I enjoy listening to it from time to time.
One Piece at a Time - Another popular song that made it to number one on the charts in 1976. Admit it, it's a silly song! Is there another artist that could have pulled this off? Silly trivia alert - did you know that someone actually used this song as an instruction manual to literally assemble a car? Guess how he did it? If you guessed "One Piece at a Time" you would not only be corny but you would be absolutely correct. Check it out:
Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart - This one is so silly that Johnny Cash couldn't keep from laughing during the song. Recorded live at Folsom Prison, the cheers and laughter that come from the prisoner's in the audience only help to forever secure this songs place on my list of silly songs.
Foolish Questions - Johnny Cash must have been irritated with someone asking a stupid question one day and decided to write this song. Everyone will relate to it and Cash masterfully weaves the message into a hilarious (and silly) story that makes for some good laughs while enjoying another great Johnny Cash song. The story about Uncle Ned is a classic! I just know that one day I am going to have the opportunity to use this one on somebody.
Two Cookie Kid - A song from the cassette that accompanied the story book called "The Good, The Bad, and The Two Cookie Kid" (yeah, Johnny Cash wrote a children's book). A funny song done in true Johnny Cash style that tells the western story of the Two Cookie Kid that steals all of the cookies. Eventually The Man in Black brings him to justice and there is a big happy ending. The only sad thing about this story is that you can't buy this song on iTunes.
Chicken in Black - This one has got to be the silliest of them all. This song is about Johnny Cash's brain being transplanted into a Chicken who goes on to sign a record deal. Apparently Johnny Cash intentionally recorded this song to protest his current record deal with Columbia. The song is really funny and actually achieved some commercial success after its release. It would probably achieve more success if it was available for download. Currently you can only get this song the old fashioned way; on a CD.
Johnny Cash was such a good story teller that this list could go on and on. That being said, I think I'll leave this list at the eight mentioned above and maybe save some silly songs for another article in the future. In the meantime, I would love to hear about your favorite silly Johnny Cash song, so please be sure to leave a comment here.
A Boy Named Sue - If this isn't a silly song then I don't know what is. Come on, a boy named Sue? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when this song was being pitched. Verbally it sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen, but Cash turned it in to one of his most recognizable and popular songs of all time. Who doesn't know A Boy Named Sue? And who doesn't like the song? It is a great song; a great silly song.
The One on the Right is on the Left - Another silly song that made it to number two on the country charts in 1966. The lyrics are hilarious and Cash's ability to sing you a story really helps to make this another silly song to listen to while you hear about a band of folk singers with different political views. A true classic!
Nasty Dan - A funny song from the Johnny Cash Children's Album released in 1975. Being on a children's album you would expect the song to be silly, and it definitely delivers. You won't be disappointed no matter your age; this 45 year old is not ashamed to admit that I enjoy listening to it from time to time.
One Piece at a Time - Another popular song that made it to number one on the charts in 1976. Admit it, it's a silly song! Is there another artist that could have pulled this off? Silly trivia alert - did you know that someone actually used this song as an instruction manual to literally assemble a car? Guess how he did it? If you guessed "One Piece at a Time" you would not only be corny but you would be absolutely correct. Check it out:
Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart - This one is so silly that Johnny Cash couldn't keep from laughing during the song. Recorded live at Folsom Prison, the cheers and laughter that come from the prisoner's in the audience only help to forever secure this songs place on my list of silly songs.
Foolish Questions - Johnny Cash must have been irritated with someone asking a stupid question one day and decided to write this song. Everyone will relate to it and Cash masterfully weaves the message into a hilarious (and silly) story that makes for some good laughs while enjoying another great Johnny Cash song. The story about Uncle Ned is a classic! I just know that one day I am going to have the opportunity to use this one on somebody.
Two Cookie Kid - A song from the cassette that accompanied the story book called "The Good, The Bad, and The Two Cookie Kid" (yeah, Johnny Cash wrote a children's book). A funny song done in true Johnny Cash style that tells the western story of the Two Cookie Kid that steals all of the cookies. Eventually The Man in Black brings him to justice and there is a big happy ending. The only sad thing about this story is that you can't buy this song on iTunes.
Chicken in Black - This one has got to be the silliest of them all. This song is about Johnny Cash's brain being transplanted into a Chicken who goes on to sign a record deal. Apparently Johnny Cash intentionally recorded this song to protest his current record deal with Columbia. The song is really funny and actually achieved some commercial success after its release. It would probably achieve more success if it was available for download. Currently you can only get this song the old fashioned way; on a CD.
Johnny Cash was such a good story teller that this list could go on and on. That being said, I think I'll leave this list at the eight mentioned above and maybe save some silly songs for another article in the future. In the meantime, I would love to hear about your favorite silly Johnny Cash song, so please be sure to leave a comment here.
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