23-01-2015, 03:34
I recently rediscovered Johnny Cash's cover of the Marty Robbins classic "Big Iron" and was struck by what a different animal it was from the original. Here is a man who's Rock'n'Roll lifestyle is catching up to him, Cash was going blind and physically falling apart- yet he still managed to blow a song by arguably one of the greatest vocalists ever out of the water. The song takes on an almost autobiographical nature from Cash's standpoint, he IS the Arizona Ranger, you can hear him bravely facing death without blinking. You'll hear people claim that "Hurt" was his best work ever, but without the publicity of "Hurt" or the heartbreaking music video (I'll admit, I cry every time), this song does Johnny Cash The Outlaw more justice than any other. "Hurt" may have summed up the man, but "Big Iron" pays beautiful tribute to his music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZfItlZG97Q