Johnny Cash: We Walk The Line

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Good evening, Austin, TX.

(cheering) Are you ready for a historic night of music?

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

MATTHEW: Huh?

Tonight we're here to celebrate the Man in Black.

(cheering) Yes.

A man that always did it his way and always did it on his terms.

Generations of musicians have been influenced by Johnny Cash and his music.

And what you're going to hear tonight is you're going to hear many of those artists that were influenced by him, including a bunch of old friends of Johnny's as well as some superstars of today.

Now Johnny was all about music.

So I got to ask you one question.

Is everybody here ready (cheering) to walk the line?

(cheering) Are you ready to walk the line?

(cheering and applauding) There we go.

Let's kick things off, please welcome Seattle's finest, Ms. Brandi Carlile.

(cheering and applauding) BRANDI: I want to see everybody get up on your feet in the name of the man.

Get up!

(cheering) Oh I hear a train a-comin' It's rolling round the bend I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when And I'm stuck in Folsom Prison Time keeps dragging on Oh when I hear that whistle blowing On down to San Antone Get your hands together.

(cheering) When I was just a baby My mama told me, son Always be a good boy Don't you ever play with guns But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die And when I hear that whistle blowing I hang my head and cry, oh Yeah!

I bet there's rich folks eating In some fancy dining car They're probably drinking whiskey Or smoking big cigars Hell I know I had it comin' Well I know I can't be free, oh Okay, but those people keep on a-moving Well that's what tortures me, ooh Waa-hoo (cheering) (clapping) Well if they freed me from my prison If the railroad train was mine I'd probably move along A little farther down the line And far from Folsom Prison Well that's where I want to stay But I'm going to let that lonesome whistle Pull my blues away (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) ANDY: That didn't suck.

How good was she?

Give it up for her one more time.

God.

(cheering and applauding) So what's up?

My name's Andy Grammer.

I- they gave me the news about a month ago I was going to get to be part of this insane night and I'm so humbled to be here.

So here we go.

(cheering) (vocalizing) Get rhythm when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues You get a rock and roll feeling in your bones Put taps on your toes and get going And get rhythm, when you get the blues A little shoe-shine boy, he never gets low-down He's got the dirtiest job in town Bending low at the peoples feet On a windy corner of a dirty street Well I asked him when he shined my shoes How'd he keep from getting the blues He dropped his grinned, his little head He popped a shoe-shined rag and then he said Get rhythm when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues He has a jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine It'll shake all the trouble From your worried mind Get rhythm when you get the blues Take it, I said.

Get rhythm when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues Get a rock and roll feeling in your bones Put taps on your toes and get going Get rhythm when you get the blues I sat down listened to the shoe-shine boy I thought I was going to jump for joy Slapped on shoe polish left and right He took the shoe-shine rag and he held it tight He stopped once to wipe his sweat away I said you're a mighty little boy To be working that way He said I like it with a big wide grin And he said he popped and popped and he said again And get rhythm when you get the blues Come on, get rhythm when you get the blues Get a rock and roll feeling in your bones Put taps on your toes and get going And get rhythm when you get the blues (vocalizing) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: How we feeling?

(cheering) Yes-sah.

(cheering) All right, this next song is an all-time favorite of Americana music legend and lead guitar player of our all-star band singing one of Johnny Cash's earliest hits, "Hey Porter."

(cheering) Would everybody please give a warm welcome to Mr.

Buddy Miller.

(cheering and applauding) Hey Buddy.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) BUDDY: I think this was Johnny Cash's first single.

I'm not completely sure.

Hey Porter.

Hey Porter Would you tell me the time How much longer will it be 'til we cross That Mason-Dixon line At daylight would you tell that engineer To slow it down or better still Just stop the train 'Cause I want to look around Hey Porter.

Hey Porter Now what time did you say How much longer will it be 'Til I can't see the light of day When we hit Dixie would you tell that engineer Ring his bell And ask everybody that ain't asleep They're going to stand right up and yell Hey!

Hey Porter.

Hey Porter It's getting light outside This old train is a-puffing steam And I have to strain my eyes But ask that engineer He would let that whistle please 'Cause I smell frost on the cotton leaves And I feel that southern breeze Hey Porter.

Porter Please get my bag for me I need nobody to tell me now we're in Tennessee Go tell that engineer Make his lonesome whistle scream We're not so far from home So take it easy on the steam Take it easy Mack.

Hey Porter.

Hey Porter Please open up that door When they stop the train I'm going to get off first I can't stand no more Tell the engineer I said thanks a lot I didn't mind the fare I'm going to set my feet on the southern soil And breathe that southern air (cheering and applauding) Thanks.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: This next song was written by Kris Kristofferson, but it was sung by Johnny Cash.

Here now to sing "Help Me Make It Through the Night," will you please welcome the lead vocalist of the multi-grammy award-winning band Train, Mr. Pat Monahan.

(cheering) Take the ribbon from your hair (cheering) Shake it loose and let it fall Layin' soft upon my skin Like the shadows on the wall Come and lay down by my side 'Til the early morning light All I'm takin' is your time Help me make it through the night (cheering) I don't care what's right or wrong I don't try to understand Let the devil take tomorrow 'Cause, Lord, tonight I need a friend Yesterday is dead and gone And tomorrow's out of sight It feels too sad to be alone So help me make it through the night I don't care what's right or wrong I don't try to understand Let the devil take tomorrow 'Cause, Lord, tonight I need a friend And yesterday is dead and gone Tomorrow's out of sight Lord, it's bad to be alone So help me make it through the night It feels too bad to be alone Somebody help me through the night (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Grammy Award winner Shelby Lynne.

(cheering and applauding) SHELBY: How y'all doing?

(cheering) Go away from my window Leave at your own chosen speed I'm not the one you want, babe I'm not the one you need You say you're looking for someone Who's never weak but always strong To protect you and defend you Whether you are right or wrong Someone to open each and every door But it ain't me, babe No, no, no, it ain't me, babe It ain't me you're looking for, babe Go lightly from the ledge, babe Go lightly from the ground I'm not the one you want, babe I'll only let you down You say you're looking for someone Promised to never part Someone to close his eyes for you Someone to close his heart Someone to die for you and evermore But it ain't me, babe No, no, no, it ain't me, babe It ain't me you're looking for, babe SHELBY: Woo!

Go melt back in the night, babe Everything inside is made of stone There's nothing in here moving And anyway, I'm not alone You say you're looking for someone Who'll pick you up each time you fall To gather flowers constantly And to come to you each time you call And love you and nothing ever life It ain't me, babe No, no, no, it ain't me, babe It ain't me you're looking for, babe It ain't, no, no, no, it ain't me, babe No, no, no, it ain't me, babe It ain't me you're looking for, babe (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: All right, let's give it up for Pat and Shelby, huh?

(cheering and applauding) Please give a good Austin welcome to a man who traveled over here from Alabama, named Mr. Jamey Johnson.

(cheering and applauding) KRIS: Hey!

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) Well I woke up Sunday morning With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad So I had one more for dessert Then I fumbled through my closet for my clothes And found my cleanest dirty shirt And I'm wearing it I washed my face and combed my hair And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day I'd smoked my brain the night before On cigarettes and songs I'd been pickin' And I lit my first and watched a young kid Cussin' at a can he was kickin' And I crossed the empty street Caught the Sunday smell of someone fryin' chicken And it took me back to somethin' I'd lost somehow, somewhere along the way On a Sunday morning sidewalk Wishing Lord that I was stoned 'Cause there's something in a Sunday That makes a body feel alone And there's nothin' short of dyin' Half as lonesome as the sound Of a sleepin' city sidewalk Sunday mornin' comin' down In the park I saw a daddy With a laughin' little girl he was swingin' And I stopped beside the Sunday school Listened to the songs that they were singin' Then I headed back for home Somewhere far away a lonesome bell was ringin' And it echoed thru the canyon Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday On a Sunday morning sidewalk Wishing Lord that I was stoned 'Cause there's something in a Sunday That makes a body feel alone And there's nothin' short of dyin' Half as lonesome as the sound Of a sleepin' city sidewalk Sunday mornin' comin' down (cheering and applauding) KRIS: Thank you.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: So let's give a good Austin welcome to the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) We got married in a fever Hotter than a pepper sprout We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson Ever since the fire went out I'm going to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson Goodbye, Jackson town Well, go on down to Jackson Go ahead and wreck your health I do what I please Go play your hand, you big-talkin' man And make a big fool of yourself Go on to Jackson Go comb your hair.

Or pick it or something I'm gonna snowball in Jackson See if I care When I breeze into that city People gonna stoop and bow Hah I'm going to get all them women Teach me what they don't know how I'm goin' to Jackson, turn-a loose my coat Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson Goodbye, that's all she wrote DOM: Whoa, play that thing, yeah.

Whoo!

Well, they'll laugh at you in Jackson I'll be dancin' on a Pony Keg DOM: Just like last week.

They'll lead you 'round town Like a scolded hound With your tail tucked between your legs Go on to Jackson, you big-talkin' man I'll be waitin' in Jackson DOM: Where you going to be?

Behind my Japan Fan Oh, we got married in a fever Hotter than a pepper sprout We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson Ever since the fire went out We're goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson Ain't never comin' back We got married in a fever Hotter than a pepper sprout We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson Ever since the fire went out (cheering and applauding) DOM: What the hell was that, folks?

(cheering and applauding) Hey-oo!

(cheering and applauding) Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.

(cheering and applauding) MAN: Please welcome, from the Old 97's, Rhett Miller.

Well, they gave him his orders At Monroe, Virginia Said, Steve you're way behind time Oh, this is not 38 this is Old 97 Pull her into Danville on time Then he turned around and said To his black greasy fireman Shovel on a little more coal Oh yeah, and when we cross That White Old Mountain Watch Old 97 roll RHETT: Ya-hoo.

Oh yeah, the telegram come From Washington station This is how it read Oh yeah, that brave engineer from Old 97 Is laying in old Danville, dead Oh, he was going down the grade Doing 90 miles an hour When the whistle broke into a scream Oh yeah, they found him in the wreck With his hand on the throttle Scalded to death by the steam Oh, yeah.

So you ladies you better take a warning From this time on and learn Oh, never speak harsh words To your true love or husband He may leave you and never return [indistinct] Yeah!

Yeah!

(cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Let's everybody say hello to the hottest all-star band in the world, let's give it up for 'em everybody.

(cheering and applauding) On steel guitar and the mandolin, Mr. Greg Leisz.

(cheering) On guitar and vocals, Mr.

Buddy Miller.

(cheering) On drums, here in the back, the keeper of the beat, my favorite hands on a pair of drumsticks, Mr. Kenny Aronoff.

(cheering) And behind me on keyboards, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Ian McLagan.

(cheering) There we go.

And last, on bass, the maestro, the musical director, Mr. Don Was.

(cheering) All right.

Would everybody please welcome Shooter Jennings and Amy Nelson.

(cheering) Oh, early one mornin' while makin' the rounds I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down Went right home and I went to bed I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun I took a shot of cocaine and away I run Made a good run but I run too slow They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico Laid in the hot joints takin' the pill In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill He said, Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown You're the dirty hack that shot your woman down Oh, yes, oh yes, my name is Willy Lee Oh, if you've got a warrant Just a-read it to me I shot her down because she made me sore I thought I was her daddy but she had five more When I was arrested I was dressed in black Put me on that train and they took me back Had no friend for to go my bail They slapped my dyed-hair carcass In that county jail Early the next morning 'round half past nine I spied the sheriff coming down the line Coughed and he coughed and he cleared his throat Come on you dirty hack into that district court Inside the courtroom my trial began Where I was held by twelve honest men Just before the jury started out I saw that little judge commence to look about In about five minutes in walked a man Holding the verdict in his right hand The verdict read in the first degree Oh I shouted, Lordy, Lordy, have mercy on me The judge he smiled as he picked up the pen 99 years in that Folsom pen 99 years underneath that ground I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down So long hoss you're no long to me Oh, lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be Yeah (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Would everyone please give a warm welcome to Grammy-winning artist, the divine Lucinda Williams.

(cheering and applauding) LUCINDA: Thanks everybody.

(cheering and applauding) I hurt myself today To see if I still feel I focus on the pain The only thing that's real The needle tears a hole The old familiar sting Try to kill it all away But I remember everything What have I become my sweetest friend Everyone I know Goes away in the end And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt (cheering) I wear this crown of thorns Upon my liar's chair Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair Beneath the stains of time The feelings disappear You are someone else I am still right here What have I become my sweetest friend Everyone I know Goes away in the end And you could have it all My empire of dirt I will let you down I will make you hurt If I could start again A million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way (cheering and applauding) LUCINDA: Thank you very much.

God bless Johnny Cash.

(cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: This next man coming up here, from Coleman, Texas, the greatest singer in Nashville, Mr. Ronnie Dunn.

(cheering and applauding) Well, I fell into a burning ring of fire (cheering and applauding) Your love, it's a burning thing And it makes a fiery ring Bound by wild desire I fell into a ring of fire I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames burned higher And it burns, burns, burns That ring of fire, that ring of fire Play it girls.

Whoo!

The taste of love is sweet When hearts like ours meet I fell for you like a child Oh, and the fire went wild I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns That ring of fire, that ring of fire Come on girls.

I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns That ring of fire, that ring of fire Come on, one more time I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns That ring of fire, that ring of fire Take us home girls.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Please welcome Iron & Wine.

(cheering and applauding) Woohoo.

(cheering and whistling) (cheering and applauding) Ten years ago, on a cold dark night Someone was killed Beneath the town hall light There were few at the scene But they all agreed That the slayer who ran looked a lot like me She walks these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, nobody sees Nobody knows but me Well, the judge said Son, what is your alibi If you were somewhere else Then you won't have to die But I said not a word, though it meant my life Because I'd been in the arms Of my best friend's wife Well, the scaffold is high And eternity's near She stood in the crowd and she shed not a tear But sometimes at night When the cold wind blows In a long black veil, she cries over my bones She walks these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, nobody sees Nobody knows but me Nobody knows, nobody sees Nobody knows but me (cheering and applauding) Thanks so much.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Please welcome a dear friend of Johnny Cash's, the one and only Mr. Kris Kristofferson.

(cheering and applauding) Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry And I showed the clouds how to cover up A clear blue sky And the tears I cried for that woman Are gonna flood you Big River And I'm gonna sit right here until I die I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl Southern drawl Then I heard my dream move back downstream Cavortin' in Davenport And I followed you, Big River, when you called Well, you took me to St. Louis later on Down the river A freighter said she's been here but she's gone Boy, she's gone And I found her trail in Memphis But she just walked up the bluff Raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone Won't you batter on down to Baton Rouge River queen movin' on Take that woman on down to New Orleans New Orleans Go on, I've had enough Dump my blues down in the gulf She loves you, Big River, more than me Well, I taught the weeping willow how to cry And I showed the clouds how to cover up A clear blue sky And the tears I cried for that woman Are gonna flood you, Big River And I'm gonna sit right here until I die (cheering and applauding) KRIS: Thank you.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Mr. Kris Kristofferson.

Come on.

Give it up.

(cheering and applauding) Would everybody please give a good, warm welcome to a global superstar, Mrs. Sheryl Crow.

(cheering and applauding) Everybody knows where you go When the Sun goes down I think you only live to see the lights of town I wasted my time when I would try, try, try 'Cause the lights have lost their glow You're going to cry, cry, cry I lie awake and wait until you come in You stay awhile and then you're gone again Every question that I ask I get a lie, lie, lie Every lie you tell, you're gonna Gonna cry, cry, cry Gonna cry, cry, cry and you'll cry alone When everything's forgotten And you're left alone You're gonna cry, cry, cry, cry Soon your sugar-daddies will all be gone You'll wake up some day and find you're all alone You'll call for me but I'm gonna tell you Bye, bye, bye When I turn around and walk away You'll cry, cry, cry Well, when your fickle love gets old No one will care for you You'll come back for me a little love That's true I'll tell you no and you're gonna ask me Why, why, why When I remind you of all of this You'll cry, cry, cry You're gonna cry, cry, cry And you'll want me then I'll hurt when you think of all the Things you've been Well, you're gonna cry, cry, cry Cry, cry, cry, cry Cry, cry, cry, cry (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: This man needs no introduction.

Willie Nelson.

(cheering and applauding) WILLIE: Thank y'all for coming out to help us celebrate a day for old Johnny Cash.

I wonder if I could get Sheryl back out here and we can do another Johnny and June song, If I were a carpenter And you were a lady Would you marry me anyway Would you have my baby If you were a carpenter And I was a lady I'd marry you anyway I'd have your baby If a tinker was my trade Would I still find you I'd be carrying the pots you made Following behind you Save my love for loneliness Save my love for sorrow Giving you my onlyness Give me your tomorrow If I were a miller At a mill wheel grinding Would you miss your colored blouse And your soft shoe shining If you were a miller At a mill wheel grinding I'd miss my colored blouse And my soft shoe shining Save my love for loneliness Save my love for sorrow Giving you my onlyness Give me your tomorrow If I worked my hands in wood Would you still love me I'd answer you Yes, I would And would you not be above me If I were a carpenter And you were a lady I'd marry you anyway I'd have your baby Save your love for loneliness Save your love for sorrow I'm giving you my onlyness Give me your tomorrows Save your love for loneliness Save your love for sorrow I'm giving you my onlyness Give me your tomorrow (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) SHERYL: Willie Nelson.

WILLIE: Sheryl Crow.

(cheering and applauding) I was a highwayman Along the coach roads I did ride With sword and pistol by my side Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade And many a soldier Shed his life blood on my blade The bastards hung me in the Spring of '25 But I am still alive I was a sailor, I was born upon the tide And with the sea I did abide I sailed a schooner 'round the horn to Mexico I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow And when the yards broke off They said that I got killed But I am living still I was a dam builder Across the river deep and wide Where steel and water did collide A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado Oh, I slipped and fell into the concrete below They buried me in that gray tomb That knows no sound But I am still around I'll always be around and around and around And around and around and around and around I'll fly a star ship Across the universe divide And when I reach the other side I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can Perhaps I may become a highwayman again Or I may simply be a single drop of rain But I will remain And I'll be back again and again and again And again and again and again and again (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) I keep a close watch on this heart of mine This heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time All the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds The tie that binds Because you're mine Because you're mine I walk the line I walk the line I find it very, very easy to be true I find myself alone when they are through Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you Because you're mine, I walk the line As sure as night is dark and day is light I keep you on my mind all day and night And happiness I've known proves that it's right Because you're mine, I walk the line RHETT: Woo-hoo You've got a way to keep me on your side You give me cause for love that I can't hide For you, I know I'd even try to turn the tide Because you're mine, I walk the line I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you're mine, I walk the line (cheering and applauding) (cheering and applauding) MATTHEW: Thank you, Austin.

(cheering and applauding) Happy birthday, Johnny Cash.

80 and some more.

(cheering and applauding) (cheering and clapping) (cheering and clapping) (cheering and clapping)