Johnny Cash: and Other Conversations by Johnny Cash

Author:Johnny Cash [Cash, Johnny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melville House
Published: 2021-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

“RING OF FIRE”

INTERVIEW BY GLENN JORGENSON

RIVER PARK PRODUCTIONS

IT’S GREAT TO BE ALIVE

1983

GLENN JORGENSON: First of all, John, I want to thank you really for taking the time in a really strenuous schedule to appear with us on our It’s Great to Be Alive series. And I am just really grateful because I know someone out there is going to get some help from the program and the comments that will go back and forth between us, so thank you very much, John.

JOHNNY CASH: It is my pleasure, and the one who is probably going to get the help is me because I have a habit of feeding off people like you who’s got some real strength to offer people. For all us old down-and-outers and hard-timers, it is still one day at a time. Every day an inspiration comes along like this program, and it really means a lot.

JORGENSON: John, we really appreciate you, and I want to share with you that, when I first met you in early 1970s, I was early in my recovery. You were the right person at the right time because you gave me some early inspiration. There was an air that came from you. I really don’t know how to describe it, but when I shook your hand, I could feel it. A strength, a spirituality, and an acceptance on your part. I’ve often wondered what makes Johnny Cash a legend, institution, inspiration to people, and with your permission, I would like to discuss some of the things that went into creating a person who has been able to help so many people…

As I said, I am very appreciative of you taking the time and helping us to help a whole lot of people. My first recollection of you, when I first met you in the early seventies, I was struck by something in you that came out in the form of strength, acceptance, almost like a spirituality, which was important to me, John, because at that time, I was early into my own recovery from chemical addiction. I’ve often wondered what creates a John Cash who can have that power and that ability to convey the message. Of course, it is in the giving away that we keep it, I know. I’d like to talk about those things. When did you first get introduced to chemicals? What was it like in those early days?

CASH: It was beautiful. People take drugs because it makes you feel good. Like I pointed out in my book, there is a demon called deception that is like the old wino. He drinks out of the bottle so long, then the bottle starts drinking out of him. Oh, the pills. I took the pills so long, and the reversal came without me knowing it, when the pills started taking from me. I had seven years of constant habituation and addiction. It was cold hard addiction, devotion. I mean it was devotion to what I was doing. It was amphetamines, barbiturates, and alcohol, all three in a cycle for seven years.

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