To see how it’s played in the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!

“God’s Gonna Cut You Down”
Traditional / Johnny Cash

(Capo 1st fret)
Am
You can run on for a long time,
Dsus2          Am
Run on for a long time,
Am
Run on for a long time.
C              Dsus2       Em         Am
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down.
C              Dsus2       Em         Am
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down.

Am
Go tell that long tongue liar,
Am
Go and tell that midnight rider.
Am
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the backbiter,
C                  Dsus2        Em          Am
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down;
C                  Dsus2        Em          Am
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down.

Am
Well, my goodness gracious, let me tell you the news;
Dsus2                                   Am
My head’s been wet with the midnight dew.
I’ve been down on bended knee,
Talkin’ to the man from Galilee.

He spoke to me in a voice so sweet,
I thought I heard the shuffle of angels’ feet.
He called my name and my heart stood still
Am
When he said, “John, go do My will.”

Go tell that long tongue liar;
Go and tell that midnight rider.
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the backbiter,
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down.
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down.

You can run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time.
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down;
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down.

Well you may throw your rock, hide your hand,
Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man.
But as sure as God made black and white,
What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.

You can run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time,
Run on for a long time.
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down;
Sooner or later, God’ll cut you down.

Go tell that long tongue liar;
Go and tell that midnight rider.
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the backbiter,
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut you down.
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut you down.
Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut you down.

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

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By Chris Moore:

Hello and welcome to this Easter Sunday edition of the Laptop Sessions! Yes, that’s right, during 2008 we’re playing a song a day, even on the holidays…

I thought it would be fitting to play Johnny Cash’s “I Hung My Head” for Easter — it involves death and the idea of moving on to heaven (or hell, depending on how you interpret his lyrics). This is from the same album as his final hit, his cover of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt.” I’ll be recording that one in the future, as well.

On a side note, I should reach my 100th subscriber by my next session on Wednesday, and I’ll be giving him/her a $10 coupon to the Fusco-Moore Store, as promised! To think that, at the beginning of February, I only had 10 subscribers and I wasn’t planning on 50 until the end of the year…

I hope you enjoy this video, and I hope you’ll comment or rate it!

Related posts:

1. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (Traditional) by Johnny Cash – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play
2. “A Rush of Blood to the Head” (Coldplay Acoustic Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
3. CD Review: Brian Wilson’s “Gettin’ In Over My Head”

By Chris Moore:

I had such fun playing “Folsom Prison Blues” that it was only a matter of time before I chose another Johnny Cash song! This is one of my father’s favorites and my grandfather is also a big fan, so I’d like to send this one out to them!

Well, I recorded this one in one perfect take… except for the very end, when I accidentally sang “I’ll try to carry off a little COLOR on my back…” instead of “darkness.” I obviously couldn’t let that go, so I re-recorded it. Again. And again. And again…

You get the point. But, I’m really happy I learned it (and anyone in hearing range the other night must’ve learned it, too). Thanks for coming back to laptopsessions.com; check back tomorrow for an all-new session from none other than Jeff Copperthite!

Related posts:

1. “I Hung My Head” (Johnny Cash Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
2. “Black” (Pearl Jam Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
3. “Travelin’ Man” (Ricky Nelson Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions

For Johnny Cash chords & lyrics, CLICK HERE!

By Chris Moore:

And, introducing a new performer to the Laptop Sessions…

Mr. Elijah Bartholomeow Wilco (the cat)!

We usually call him Eli for short, and yes, he’s my cat.  And, yes, if you listen closely enough, that’s him in the background providing some harmony vocals.  To be honest, he’s not much worse than I am, although I’m not sure what that says about his abilities.  I tried explaining that Johnny Cash’s American series doesn’t really lend itself to multiple vocals, but he just wouldn’t listen.

In all seriousness, welcome to the start of a new week for us here at the best cover song music video blog in the world!  After I wrote my review of Mudcrutch for last night’s Weekend Review (written while sitting in my car in the Panera parking lot after they had closed but hadn’t turned off the wireless), I considered recording another Mudcrutch cover (in addition to my take on “Scare Easy”) to atone for my lukewarm review.  I really do love Tom Petty and want to love Mudcrutch, but –

Well, you should go back and read the actual review.

Instead, I decided to dig into the recent posthumous Johnny Cash album.  American VI: Ain’t No Grave is an excellent final chapter in Cash’s legendary catalog.  The songs are nothing surprising and are certainly in keeping with the tone of the other five, but the selections and the performances are all just right.  This track, “1 Corinthians 15:55,” is one of Cash’s final original compositions and, as you may have guessed, is based on the scripture referenced in the title.  I found chords and lyrics rather easily on the web, but – not surprisingly – I found that they were a bit off.  For one thing, the chords were more complicated than they needed to be for the average acoustic guitar player.  I speak from experience here.  Also, the lyrics were a few words off here and there.  So, I did what I love to do – I sat in front of the speakers, typed out the lyrics, replayed it to transcribe the chords and mark the changes in the proper places, and posted it all for your non-profit enjoyment.

My post will be somewhat abbreviated tonight, as I’m only minutes away from beginning an exciting evening of friends, fast food, and TNA wrestling fun.  Tonight is the first TNA Impact! scheduled for a regular weekly live Monday night slot.  This is big news for this show and is hopefully a sign of great, exciting things to come in the future.  Best of all, wrestling is an evening of entertainment and relaxation with one of my dearest friends and one of my favorite restaurant locales!

So, that’s it for tonight.  I hope you enjoy my take on this contemporary Cash song, and be sure to hurry back for more new acoustic cover song music videos to come – a Laptop Session tomorrow and a Guest Session on Friday.  Also, since I feel bad about cutting this short, you never know what I’ll whip up for your post-reading pleasure as the week goes on…

See you next session!

Related posts:

1. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (Traditional) by Johnny Cash – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play
2. “I Hung My Head” (Johnny Cash Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
3. “Good Enough” (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers acoustic rock cover song) – The Laptop Sessions

To see how it’s played in the cover song music video, CLICK HERE!

“1 Corinthians 15:55″
Johnny Cash

A
Oh, death, where is thy sting?
E                                           A
Oh, grave, where is thy victory?
A                                        D
Oh, life, you are a shining path, and
D                                      A
hope springs eternal just over the rise when I
E                                              A
see my Redeemer beckoning me.

A
Oh, row my ship over the waves of your sea; let me
E                                     A
find a safe port now and then.
A       D                                   A
Don’t let the dark one in your sanctuary
B                                  E
until it’s time to pack it in.

Oh, row, row my ship with the fire of your breath
and don’t lay a broadside on your ship as yet.
Blow, ye warm winds when it’s chilly and wet,
and don’t come too soon for collecting my debt.

Oh, death, where is thy sting?
Oh, grave, where is thy victory?
Oh, life, you are a shining path,
and hope springs eternal just over the rise when I
see my Redeemer beckoning me.

Oh, let me sail on with my ships to the east
and keep my eye on the North Star.
When the journey is no good for man or for beast,
I’ll be safe wherever you are.

Just let me sail in to your harbor of lights
and there, and forever, to cast out my line.
Give me my task and let me do it right,
and do it with all of my might.

Oh, death, where is thy sting?
Oh, grave, where is thy victory?
Oh, life, you are a shining path,
and hope springs eternal just over the rise when I
see my Redeemer beckoning me.

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

Related posts:

1. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (Traditional) by Johnny Cash – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play
2. “I Hung My Head” (Johnny Cash Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions

Johnny Cash's "American VI: Ain't No Grave" (2010)

(February 23, 2010)

Review:

This may be the final posthumous Johnny Cash release and its tracks may be refugees from American V, but this is perhaps his tightest, most thematically cohesive album — these are admittedly not the most impressive songs he has chosen to interpret, and yet Rick Rubin’s arrangement adds substance to these performances, which are among Cash’s finest.

Top Two Tracks:

“Ain’t No Grave” & “Redemption Day”

Related posts:

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2. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (Traditional) by Johnny Cash – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play