The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Every man has to come to a crossroad somewhere along the way.
Johnny Cash came to his crossroad in a place called Nickajack Cave.
Little white pills and whiskey
Honky tonks and smoke
One night stands with his country band
Had him strung out on the ropes
Well, he cried out to Jesus
He said, "Jesus, I think I'm too lost to save."
He already had one foot inside the grave
As he stepped into the mouth of Nickajack Cave
Everything was darkness
Wasn't no light at all
Just the cold dank air and the pitch black dirt
And the spiders on the walls
Well, he laid down beneath a ledge
And curled up there to meet his judgment day
The shivering came upon him wave by wave
Well, he could feel the breath of death in Nickajack Cave
Then high above him shone a light
He never would forget
Then he heard a voice say, "Johnny Cash,
I ain't through with you yet.
Get up, I ain't through with you yet.
I ain't through with you get Johnny Cash,
Get up."
Then he crawled out from beneath that ledge
And felt a gentle breeze
Tears and dirt smeared on his face
As peaceful as could be
Well, he knelt down upon the ground
Raised his eyes up to the light and prayed
He said, "Lord, I'll be your servant from this day."
That's how he became "The Man In Black" in Nickajack Cave
That's how he became "The Man In Black" in Nickajack Cave
Get up Johnny Cash, I ain't through with you yet
Get up
Johnny Cash came to his crossroad in a place called Nickajack Cave.
Little white pills and whiskey
Honky tonks and smoke
One night stands with his country band
Had him strung out on the ropes
Well, he cried out to Jesus
He said, "Jesus, I think I'm too lost to save."
He already had one foot inside the grave
As he stepped into the mouth of Nickajack Cave
Everything was darkness
Wasn't no light at all
Just the cold dank air and the pitch black dirt
And the spiders on the walls
Well, he laid down beneath a ledge
And curled up there to meet his judgment day
The shivering came upon him wave by wave
Well, he could feel the breath of death in Nickajack Cave
Then high above him shone a light
He never would forget
Then he heard a voice say, "Johnny Cash,
I ain't through with you yet.
Get up, I ain't through with you yet.
I ain't through with you get Johnny Cash,
Get up."
Then he crawled out from beneath that ledge
And felt a gentle breeze
Tears and dirt smeared on his face
As peaceful as could be
Well, he knelt down upon the ground
Raised his eyes up to the light and prayed
He said, "Lord, I'll be your servant from this day."
That's how he became "The Man In Black" in Nickajack Cave
That's how he became "The Man In Black" in Nickajack Cave
Get up Johnny Cash, I ain't through with you yet
Get up
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Nickajack Cave (Johnny Cash's Redemption) Lyrics as written by Jamie O'hara
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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