Trains, Jesus, and Murder: The Gospel according to Johnny Cash

by Richard Beck

"Saints and sinners, all jumbled up together." That's the genius of Johnny Cash, and that's what the gospel is ultimately all about.

Johnny Cash sang about and for people on the margins. He famously played concerts in prisons, where he sang both murder ballads and gospel tunes in the same set. It's this juxtaposition between light and dark, writes Richard Beck, that makes Cash one of the most authentic theologians in memory.

In Trains, Jesus, and Murder, Beck explores the theology of Johnny Cash by investigating a dozen of Cash's songs. In reflecting on Cash's lyrics, and the passion with which he sang them, we gain a deeper understanding of the enduring faith of the Man in Black.

Genres: Religion, Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Christian

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

Dr. Richard Beck is a Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University, and he is the author of the popular blog Experimental Theology: The Thoughts, Articles and Essays of Richard Beck and the books The Slavery of Death, Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality and The Authenticity of Faith: The Varieties and Illusions of Religious Experience. As an experimental psychologist and a practicing Christian, he attempts in his writing "to integrate theology with the experimental social sciences."

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's difficult to be both an outlaw and a saint, though Cash tried to pull it off his entire career. One minute he's cussing on the stage at Folsom Prison, the next he's singing a gospel song about Jesus. One minute he's flipping you the [middle] finger, the next he's quoting the Bible. That juxtaposition of light and darkness, murder and Jesus, is riveting and exhilarating . . . " -- the author, page 166

Author Beck, a psychology professor who moonlights as a prison chaplain AND is a fan of Johnny Cash's music, examines the dichotomy of the lifestyle and the song choices for 'The Man in Black' along with actual Biblical scripture in the interesting Trains, Jesus, and Murder: The Gospel According to Johnny Cash. (That catchy title is courtesy of the author's son, who once quipped to his dad that it appeared the singer/songwriter seemed to concentrate on specific subject matter . . . and he's right, ya know?) Beck wisely mined Robert Hilburn's bio Johnny Cash: The Life and Michael Streissguth's Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: The Making of a Masterpiece - both are excellent and informative books, by the way - for good resource material, and admirably attempted to discuss / dissect a fair amount of Cash's discography. That's no easy feat, since there is 45+ years of musical material to choose from, but Beck hits the notable marks - the early Sun Records singles, the trio of critically-acclaimed concept albums in the mid-60's, the Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts of the late 60's, and the legend-cementing American Recordings starting in the mid-90's. It offers some nicely detailed information in just 200 pages, and I especially liked his Biblical breakdown (so to speak) on the lyrics of 'The Man Comes Around,' which was arguably the greatest swan song of any performer.

[Isaac Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I feel as though one can truly only understand Johnny Cash by both listening to his music and reading the Bible. The former is something I can do very easily. Maybe if I listen long enough, I can feel the boom-chicka-boom inspire me to finally hunker down and read the Bible.

This book is very much gospel heavy when discussing Cash, which is obvious given the title, but by no means is it too religious, which I’m not saying something can be or cannot be… I enjoyed this read quite a bit and even feel a bit more admiration for Cash. Through all of his battles, his music is what saved him… his gospel and his commitment to advocate for the outcast is what saved him… also June Carter (how could I forget about her).

Cash might not be the first artist future generations listen to, but when they do, his impact will be undeniably great (as it was for me).

Thanks Partens for the gift. Starting the running book now!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Cash is one of my all time favorites. His music is brilliant, introspective and often haunting.

Richard Beck is probably one of my favorite writers. He is not very well-known even within the Christian publishing world (at least, I don’t think he is...maybe I’m wrong?). Yet he’s written a bunch of books and I’ve read a few and found all of them thoughtful, profound and helpful.

This one is a reflection on the life and work of Cash. Its not really a biography, and Beck heavily relies on Robert Hilburn’s biography (which I read a few years back and highly recommend). Instead, Beck reflects on Cash’s music, tying in his own experience interacting with prisoners in his ministry at a nearby prison. Overall, if you’re a fan of Cash and a Christian, this is a must read.

As a side note, Beck’s work pushed me to investigate some of Cash’s lesser known albums, arguing if you truly want to understand Cash you need to go past his most well-known songs. Other than the more recent American recordings, I had not listened to his other, older albums in depth so I took Beck’s suggestion and found some good stuff I’d not heard before.

[Adam Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Pop culture connections to the gospel and biography the way it is supposed to be done.

I have long been a subscriber to Christ and Pop Culture Magazine. Seeing glimpses of God in art is one of the best ways I know of to communicate about Christ to people that are not Christians. But what I am interested in pop culture connection is the way that we can understand Christian imagery through artistic works. Unfortunately, in my mind, books that have the subtitle "Gospel According to..." tend to be more focused on evangelism and twisting art to fit a message. Trains, Jesus and Murder, is an exceptionally example of the 'Gospel According to...' types of books.

There are a few that are similar, Rowan Williams' book on CS Lewis' Naria, the recent book about Mister Rogers, and even in a way, James KA Smith's latest book on Augustine are all examples of seeking out God in a persons art or work without distorting the work. One of the aspects that I think is essential in doing this style of book well, is being honest about weaknesses. Johnny Cash was far from perfect. His less than ideal image is part of what has made his legacy enduring; he made outlaw country a thing. His struggle with addiction is well known, and like Brennan Manning, it was a life long struggle.

Johnny Cash was also a saint, or at least he tried to be. He wrote multiple books on Christianity, he made movies about his faith, and he was generous to many around him. Part of what Beck is communicating is that Cash was impacted by his older brother's death when Johnny was young. His older brother was going to be a preacher, and Johnny Cash, despite is outlaw image did want to share the gospel widely in his way.

Beck's central theme is that for the Man in Black, the gospel is about solidarity.

The gospel according to the Man in Black is a gospel rooted in solidarity. The cross of Christ, in this view, is an act of divine identification with the oppressed. On the cross, God is found with and among the victims of the world. More, given that crucified persons were considered to be cursed by God—“Cursed is anyone who is hung upon a tree” (Deuteronomy 21:23)—God is found in Jesus among the cursed and godforsaken. Again, the first place to look for Jesus is in hell. By standing with the poor and beaten down, the music of Johnny Cash shows us how a gospel of solidarity begins as an interpretative activity: the cross is a way of seeing and reading the world. Specifically, the cross helps us answer this most important question: Where is God?

...That is the gospel according to the Man in Black: drawing near to and loving the lost, unnoticed, unremarkable, excluded, powerless, broken, condemned, and despicable. Solidarity is a love that grows warmest in the coldest places. That vision prompts us to take the second step in the dance of divine solidarity. After we read the world to locate God among the victims and the oppressed, we are called to action, to move ourselves to stand with those who are suffering. As Bonheoffer said, God “goes right into the middle of it.” God draws near.

Like all of his books, Beck uses his background as a psychologist to help us make sense of faith. There are long discussions (long as in fruitful, not long as in a diatribe) about how we as Christians should be in solidarity, so as not to make ourselves into the savior.

The currency of solidarity isn’t moral heroism—rescuing, fixing, and saving people. The currency of solidarity is relationship, mutuality, and friendship. And if that’s the case, we come face-to-face with the reality that relationships are risky and that we can’t guarantee the outcomes, no matter how hard we try. We aren’t in control, and some stories end sadly and tragically.

Jesus, Trains, and Murder isn't just a devotional, but it is also a good exploration of the music. I am familiar with Cash's music, or at least much of it. The chapter devoted to the album Bitter Tears was almost entirely new to me. I knew he had an album around Native American issues, but other than the songs that I had heard on collections, I had not listened to it.  After I finished the book, I listened to several albums of Cash in a new way.

But as much as Trains, Jesus, and Murder is not a devotional, it still points to Christianity well, especially regarding how art can communicate faith.

Yes, Jesus’s beauty will save the world, but there is something transgressive about this beauty. Transgressive is a word from the art community, used to describe artwork that goes against our artistic, aesthetic sensibilities. Transgressive art shocks, offends, and startles us. In a similar way, Jesus displays a transgressive beauty, a beauty that moves through the world in a way that shocks, offends, and startles us—mainly because Jesus’s kindness stands in solidarity with people we’d rather ignore and exclude. Jesus practices a transgressive kindness.

I have not read a bad book by Richard Beck. His books tend to be ones that I think about long after I am done. But this is one that I think was the most enjoyable for me.

[Luke Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m currently in my Johnny Cash era, so I knew had to read this one, and it did not disappoint! While Richard Beck’s chapters are short, and many of his theological/spiritual insights are rather simple, I still gleaned much from this book, and learned to love and appreciate the music of Johnny Cash even more. Cash is something of an anomaly—he embodies both sinner and saint, singing about both Jesus and murder (per the title), sometimes in the same song. This book would be a good read not only for those who consider themselves Cash fans, but also for those that have only heard a song or two. In the end, “the gospel according to Johnny Cash” is a hard-hitting, hard-to-swallow, convicting, and at times confusing gospel, and this book helpfully looks at this gospel from all angles.

More than anything else, though, just go listen to Johnny Cash’s albums “At Folsom Prison” and “At San Quentin”—those albums will tell you all you need to know about Johnny Cash’s gospel!

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of Richard Beck's books is thought-provoking and challenging, worthy of a close read. He brings together his professional training as a psychologist with his love of theology and the church to create what I consider masterpieces.

As Beck has shared in prior books (and on his blog), he has spent many years leading Bible studies at a maximum-security prison near his home in Abilene, Texas. This experience has opened his eyes and ears to the realities of prison life and the person's of those imprisoned. With that background it's not surprising that he chose to take up the topic of Johnny Cash, whose concerts at Folsom Prison and San Quentin are not only famous, but have been recorded. It was on one of his journeys to teach the Bible study at the prison that he listened to Cash's music, and everything seemed to click.

In "Trains, Jesus, and Murder," Beck unfolds what he deems "The Gospel According to Johnny Cash." While I know many of Johnny Cash's songs, I've seen the movie about his life, and know that he struggled with drugs even as he sought to make his Christian faith part of his performances, there is much more to Cash that I didn't know about until reading Beck's book.

The title of the book stems from a comment made by Beck's son who summed up Cash's music as speaking of three things: "trains, Jesus, and murder." Now, the reference to trains points in part to themes that emerge in music, but also the Boom Chicka feel of much of his music, especially early on. The references to Jesus and Murder might seem odd, but his songs speak of both. Thus, it is appropriate to put them in juxtaposition, as Beck does here. Beck comments that the "contrast between Jesus and murder, between gospel hymns and odes to a criminal mentality---and there is nothing like this contrast in the whole of the music industry --- is what fascinated me about the music of Johnny Cash." (p. 5).

The fifteen chapters that make up the book are divided into four parts. Part 1, which comprises the first two chapters, introduces us to his family and the role that faith plays in his life. We learn that his beloved brother Jack, who had a desire to become a preacher died in a horrific accident that his father blamed on Johnny. It was this guilt that stayed with Johnny through his life as he tried to carry on his brother's mission through his music but failing to live up to the standards set for him.

Chapters three through ten comprise part 2: "Sinners and Solidarity." Johnny had a special feel for those who were on the margins. The concerts and songs about prison are good examples and are described in detail here. There is a chapter that shares about his speaking up for Native Americans and others whom he encountered. We learn that Johnny often provided support to those who came to his concerts and who were in need of financial help. Both the guilt and the faith contributed.

Part three only has two chapters, but it explores another dimension of Cash's life -- his deep love for the country. We learn that he loved the country and celebrated it, often with nostalgia. At the same time he was not shy about pointing out the nation's faults -- as seen in his solidarity with Native Americans, opposition to the Vietnam War, among other justice concerns.

Part Four is titled "Suffering and Salvation." In these three chapters, we learn more about his later life. We learn that the 1980s were a difficult time, as his popularity waned. But after losing his Columbia Records contract, which he had for more than 25 years, he found a new lease on life with a producer known for working with hip-hop artists.

Throughout these chapters we encounter a man who loved God, wanted to fulfill his brother's calling, and yet too often failed to live accordingly. There is the failed marriage to Vivian, the drug addictions, the near suicide, the marriage to June Carter Cash, which helped give him stability.

The epilogue to the book carries the subtitle "The Gospel Road." This was the title of Johnny's movie filmed in the early 1970s about the life of Jesus, which featured his own music and narration. But in this context, it refers also to Johnny Cash's life as Richard Beck encountered it through the lens of his own prison ministry. Beck notes that "the gospel according to Johnny Cash in "The Gospel Road" comes out most clearly in the crucifixion and death of Jesus." As presented in the fnal scenes of the movie, the message is that "this sacrifice isn't an ancient story, a legend, or a myth. This sacrifice of love is a living, contemporary reality." (p. 187). The Gospel of Johnny Cash is one of grace, even for the murderer living in prison. With those who live on the margins, Cash stood in solidarity.

If you've Beck's books, you will know he is a great communicator. I don't think you will be disappointed with this book. If you don't know Beck, in my opinion you should know him, and there isn't a better introduction to Beck's work than this book.

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't a Johnny Cash fan before picking up this book but heard Beck talking about it on a podcast and have have been enriched by Beck's blog "Experiemental Theology" and one of his other books, Unclean.

I loved this book, which is a mix of biography, song analysis, and theological reflection. The gospel according to Johnny Cash has things to say about good and evil, forgiveness, and more, but especially about solidarity, about the God who is with us in all things and especially with those who are most distressed.

"This is the gospel according to the Man in Black: drawing near to and loving the lost, unnoticed, unremarkable, excluded, powerless, broken, condemned, and despicable. Solidarity is a love that grows warmest in the coldest places." (32)

"Hope is where your ass is." (33)

On the parable of the sheep and the goats, and on Cash's visits to prisons: "When we welcome the homeless and the incarcerated, we aren't the saviors - we are the ones being saved." (45)

"Yes, Jesus' beauty will save the world, but there is something transgressive about this beauty.... Jesus practices a transgressive kindness." (87)

The book of Ruth (in contrast to Judges) as an example of how beauty and transgressive kindness save the world. (92-93)

"The church fathers describe sin as a wound. And for the most part, it's a self-inflicted wound." (153)

[Elisha Condie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a title! Hot damn. Our library is open for "limited browsing" which means there are about 100 books on the shelf and you get 10 minutes to cast your eyes over them and get out. What luck that I found this one.

Written by Richard Beck, who teaches a Bible study class once a week in a prison, Beck comes to Johnny Cash's music like the rest of us do as a fan, but not a die hard. Then he goes into who Cash really was and what his songs meant. Cash was deeply religious and committed to social causes (like Native American rights, the Vietnam War protests, prison reform, etc), which I hadn't exactly realized and was happy to know. But at the same time he was a drug addict who had plenty of his own problems too, just trying to make it in the music business. Cash could sing songs like "I Walk the Line" - and he wanted to walk that straight line - while he privately struggled to just keep himself clean. He knew that being poor and uneducated weren't character flaws and he sang songs that gave dignity to everyone.

There's a lot of great little pieces in this book. Yeah, it's a little churchy, but that was Johnny Cash for ya. And I'm here for it.

[Jesse Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I am a Cash fan and a Christian, but this book lays out a very good rationale for a practical faith that is needed.

[Tyler]

Beck doin his thing. Good theology.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theology is an interesting subject. Through the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Bible, we see that God revealed Godself to Abram/Abraham, Moses, the prophets and Jesus from which Hebrew and Christian theology emerged. Experiencing God’s presence and power coming first and the explanation of it in words and the resulting boundaries coming next through oral and written means.

Johnny Cash’ experience of sin, brokenness, hurt and of the love, healing and and power of God are expressed through Johnny’s songs and performances. The author does a masterful job of connecting Johnny Cash’ experiences, both dark and bright, with Christian theology.

The author has been in prison ministry for some years as I have I, which, to me, adds credibility to this important book.

[Lady Brainsample · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a Richard Beck book, I am challenged. Challenged in either my knowledge, my inaction, or even my core beliefs about the world and who God is. This book is no exception.
I read Johnny Cash's autobiography years ago, but this book was full of stories about him I had never heard that paint a fuller and more nuanced picture of the Man in Black than I knew before.

For instance, I generally knew about Folsom Prison but had never heard the subversive "San Quentin," a song that brutally indicts the prison industrial complex and almost started a riot when Cash played it in San Quentin (the prison it's based on).
At Folsom Prison (the album), "...spoke in a way no artist was speaking at the time, and this at the height of the protest-minded, justice-oriented, socially conscious 1960s. Michael Streissguth makes the contrast: 'Folsom was also a social statement on behalf of disenfranchised people, as potent as any such statement in the roiling 1960s, for by appearing in front of America's modern-day lepers and recording and releasing what came of it, Cash unapologetically told his listeners that these locked-away men deserved compassion, if not the liberation, that the 1960s offered. None of Cash's peers in popular music ever dared to so brazenly wield their music, not Dylan, not Zappa, not the Beatles, not Country Joe McDonald, not Crosby, Stills, Nash, and (or) Young, not any big-selling artist who composed and performed so-called protest music in the 1960s.'"

And on the the theological side: "If the gospel according to Johnny Cash is anything, it's standing with the outcasts and outlaws of the world. Johnny Cash spoke for the underdog, the forgotten, and the ignored. Jesus was notorious for hanging out with sinners and prostitutes. Cash's music followed suit."

Before this book, I had never even heard of Cash's album Bitter Tears, a full album of Native American protest songs, most notably a cover of "The Ballad of Ira Hayes."

And don't even get my started about the balls of Cash playing the song "What is Truth" in the Nixon White House, a song that "he wrote expressing solidarity with the American youth, especially their anti-war sentiments."

There's so many things I could say about this book, but I'll just close with a few words from the introduction that I think sum it all up really well:

"Pick up any Johnny Cash album, and you'll likely find a hymn of praise next to a murder ballad. Saints and sinners are all jumbled up together. Seams of gold run through the blackest of hearts. Faith shines brightest in the darkest of places. And I feel closest to God worshiping with the damned."

[René · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Not sure if this should be three or two stars from me. The author is a prison chaplain and his biblical take on the Cash songs he chose to analyze is definitely interesting. But as a Catholic from Chicago--as opposed to a southern evangelical or someone from a more Bible-centric form of Christianity--I can't speak to how well the author applied Cash's lyrics to the Bible or biblical teachings. I felt a little lost in this regard. So I came at this book more from the view of a music/country music fan. In terms of musical knowledge, I think the author was a little out of his depth at times. I got the sense he regards Cash's religious obsessions and the contrasts in his lyrics between faith and criminality or sin as unique in the music world, which isn't the case. There's a lot of that going in all kinds of American music (blues, hip hop, rock, and certainly in Cash's own field of folk and country). I think knowing more about how Cash fit in with all the other musicians and singers obsessed with sin and salvation would've strengthened his reading of Cash's lyrics. He also might have given more credit and space to some of Cash's songwriters and contemporaries (Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, etc). Not all the songs in this book were written by Cash. He certainly had his reasons for picking them, but so did the original songwriters/artists for writing them. It felt a bit claustrophobic and hagiographic to focus solely on Cash at the expense of other artists'/songwriters' backstories.

[Linda Klager · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at our local public library. I thought the title of this book was very interesting.
I have always admired Johnny Cash for a lot of reasons.

Johnny loved his older brother Jack. When Jack died, he felt guilty because he was trying to get Jack to go fishing with him that day. Jack was hurt in a horrible saw accident. He died days later.

Jack had dreams of being a preacher and read the Bible a lot. Johnny wanted to honor his brother by being a representative for Jesus.

When Johnny started out in his singing career, Elvis was very popular. A man at Sun Records tried to get Johnny to do "rockabilly" music, but Johnny wanted to do gospel songs. Johnny left Sun Records and was able to have more input with Columbia.

Johnny had so many good ideas and wrote songs to help those that were downtrodden like prisoners, poor people, Vietnam veterans, and Native Americans. The only thing that held Johnny back was being faithful to his wife Vivian and then Johnny got into drugs.

After many years, Johnny did overcome the drugs with the help of June Carter and her family. Johnny and June had such a deep love for each other. All of these things the author, Richard Beck brought out in this book.

Richard Beck meets with prisoners each Monday doing a Bible Study and because of his admiration of Johnny Cash, he was able to continue with this ministry. "Hats off" to Mr. Beck.

[L Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read a typical biography of Cash or you can pick this up. It’s a creative blending of song history, lyrics, personal stories, and application to life and faith. It’s a book about Johnny Cash but also about you and me.

Beck introduces the reader to the Johnny Cash that the world knows and then narrows the scope and dives deeper into the man and the artist that few of us may really know about.

The book gives the reader just enough of a taste of his lesser known, but perhaps more important, works to spur the reader to search for more about Cash’s life or create a new Cash playlist or find meaning you never knew was there.

Beck weaves psychology with faith to help the reader better understand who Cash was and what he was trying to say. The result are micro lessons about our own faith, questions, relationships, paths, hurts, and even successes.

Beck subtly leads the reader to ask if Cash was right in choosing love above all. Do our lives and our work tell a message too? Life as a believer doesn’t mean perfection and things nearly tied up with a bow. More often than not, our lives are like Cash’s and the prisoners full of highs and lows, public flaws and hidden sins, regret and grace, sadness and hope. And God loves us - warts and all. As long as his music is heard, Johnny Cash will keep on preaching for years to come.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never known too much about Johnny Cash. Thanks to "Trains, Jesus, and Murder", I can say that I have been missing out! Richard Beck does an excellent job of combining biography with religion.
Johnny Cash lived a life filled with sorrow and regret, mixed with some enjoyable moments. Between a strained and failed marriage, a strained relationship with God, and being shot into superstardom, it was no surprise to hear of the trouble he had to endure. The solution to his problems came in different forms, but it always helped when the gospel was present somewhere. One thing that helped was the prison system, a place that on the outside appears to house the worst kind of people but on the inside can provide healing to both inmates and visitors.
Beck formats his book based on Cash’s singles. It’s amazing how each title fits perfectly with Cash’s life events. Some backstory on the creation and meaning of the song is given, then additional biblical facts are stated that coincide with the events occurring in Cash’s life. Beck knows his Bible and how to present an entertaining, informative, and well-made book!

[Valerie HappiestWhileReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trains, Jesus & Murder by Richard Beck - this non-fiction book’s subtitle describes it well: the Gospel according to Johnny Cash.

This slim volume examines Cash’s incredible career and enduring faith by exploring the events and theology of 15 of his greatest hits. The book has four sections: Family and Faith, Sinners and Solidarity, Nation and Nostalgia, and Suffering and Salvation.

Each chapter focus on one song, first sharing its history and then relating relevant Bible passages. I learned a great deal about Johnny Cash, his music, the breadth and depth of his career, and the context of his faith.

The author states, If you want to know the music of J.R. Cash, listen to these four albums

Ride the Train
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Bitter Tears
Sings the Ballad of the True West

Thank you to Fortress Press for the review copy of this great book and for creating a Spotify playlist to accompany it.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

1 Star = It's Johnny Cash content
.5 Star = It was incredible easy to read (I'm feeling generous though so I'll give it the full star.)

There's nothing in this book that is overly original when it comes to Johnny Cash. It basically seems like a long sermon that the author shapes around a few Cash songs. Nothing original about it. Not even any primary source research. There've been 4 books written about Johnny Cash and religion since his passing, if that topic interests you, I suggest seeking out one of the other 3.

Update 2022/02/15: I am currently reading "The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash" by Dave Urbanski and I can tell that Urbanski's book greatly inspired this book. Entire concepts and phrases are lifted from Urbanski's work (not plagiarized, there are citations) but it just makes this work seem more and more unnecessary to me. Urbanski's book isn't that great and so I feel like Beck using it as a source of inspiration and literally as source material really hurts this book's purpose. In my original review, I suggested people seek out one of the other 3 books on Cash and religion of that topic interests them, but I cannot in good conscious recommend any of them. They are basic retelling's of the Cash narrative, often telling stories that have been whittled down or debunked in other, better works. Just read "Johnny Cash: The Life" by Robert Hilburn if you're interested in Cash. You will not regret it.

[Donald Holliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read but full of great material. I enjoyed reading about Johnny Cash’s life and the spirituality that was found in his music and life. At times, however, it seemed that Beck was interpreting Cash from his own theological perspective, rather than that of Cash. This leads me to the question: is this the gospel according to Johnny Cash or Richard Beck? This isn’t entirely negative. I enjoyed a different theological perspective from my own. There are moments that I was challenged, in a good way.

Overall, it was a great book and if honors the life and legacy of Johnny cash well.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly remarkable book!! In less than 150 pages Beck gives quite a summary of the faith and music of Johnny Cash. He clearly understands the contradictions and has discovered the depth of what Cash was saying and doing- both with his message and the struggles of his own life. The word to describe Cash- as many of us have known from being his fans for years- is grace. He knew the need for it and then lived it.

[Cathy Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Richard Beck, is impressed with Johnny Cash's ability to connect with audiences, particularly in the prison concerts. He connect Cash's artistic ability to a personal disposition to identify with and at times walk with people on the margins of society. This is root for several chapters that survey Cash's musical career, personal stories to form a series of meditations that are concrete and plain spoken.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beck, a pastor and prison chaplain, takes us through the music of Johnny Cash with its emphasis on trains, Jesus and murder. He presents Cash’s music as a type of sacrament, a witness of love especially for those who have been ostracized and wounded by society - prisoners, veterans, Native Americans, the poor, the addicted. This is a beautiful and well-written book that offers a compelling gospel, filled with doubt and darkness and hope and humanity.

[Rob Carmack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a newer, deeper appreciation for the music of Johnny Cash. I've loved every book by Richard Beck that I've read, but this one is special. Looking at music and finding the themes and ideas just beneath the surface is one of my favorite things, and Dr. Beck does it with great insight and expertise. I'll be getting this book as a Christmas gift for several family members.

[Byron Fike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnny Cash was a man of contradiction. He struggled mightily with sin and compromised his faith in some terribly public ways. However, he never gave up on his ultimate trust in Jesus. Richard Beck has done a masterful job of telling the story of Johnny's faith. In spite of his failures, Johnny Cash is an inspiration to all who might think they are beyond redemption.

[Gato Negro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing what to expect, I liked this book very much, from the recurrent theme of the title to the stories behind the albums that featured the most disenfranchised. The stories about Johnny Cash's family life and how his compassion developed over time were touching. Recommended for both the casual listener and the Johnny Cash fanatic.

[Aj Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Beck does a great job of writing about Johnny Cash’s life and how it displayed the gospel in the midst of murder ballads. I learned a lot about Johnny Cash, but I was also reminded about the beauty and love of Jesus who stands on behalf of the oppressed. Beck beautifully wove together aspects of who Johnny Cash is with profound reflections on the power of the gospel.

[Paula Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnny Cash has always been one of my favorite performers. This book provided a lot of insight into his music. “The gospel according to Johnny Cash finds its natural home in the intimate, human spaces of heartache, brokenness and loss.”

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I’m a casual admirer of Cash, so this book opened my eyes to the darkness that haunted him. Each chapter dives into a different song. Listen to the corresponding song for a truly immersive experience.

[Casey Cep]

"an odd little book, a hodgepodge of music criticism, theodicy, biography, exegesis, meditations on fatherhood, and musings on [Beck's] own prison ministry..."

Reviewed it for "The New Yorker": https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...

[Jeff Skipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a country music fan all of my life, and a pastor, this blend of story/truth was right up my alley. Learned a lot about Cash-all of his darkness and light, and Beck did a masterful job of weaving the gospel into his story and applying it to our own lives. This was a fun one.