Trains, Jesus, and Murder

July 29, 2019
Mixing biography, theology, social justice, and music history, prison chaplain Beck (Stranger God) unpacks the meaning behind the music and lyrics of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash (1932–2003) in this wonderful work. Organizing the biographical material thematically, Beck ties events in Cash’s life to 15 of his songs, each one a separate chapter. In gritty prose, Beck paints a picture of a man who was committed to God, pacifism, patriotism, racial equality, and solidarity with the poor and oppressed. Beck explains the ways Cash felt as broken as those he longed to help and depicts his personal battles with addiction, depression, and infidelity. Over his long career, Cash became his own “target audience” for his message of faith and forgiveness, Beck writes. Beck also uses Cash’s persona as both outlaw and saint to weave in theological discussions, including a critique of Israel’s inability to “walk the line” with God and the validity of liberation theology, which holds that God preferentially takes the side of the poor and oppressed over the exalted and powerful. For instance, in the chapter “San Quentin,” Beck uses his own work in prisons to talk about Cash’s famous prison concert (which almost started a riot). Fans of the Man in Black who are interested in how his faith informed his career will love this.

October 15, 2019
Johnny Cash's love of gospel music was rooted in the Arkansas dirt, Beck writes in this episodic biography that focuses more on the music than the life. But of course, music was Cash's life, as Beck evidences. Each of his chapters is prefaced by the title of a Cash classic that provides context for the analysis of music and life that follows. The strategy works well, especially in such chapters as Folsom Prison Blues, which recreates Cash's legendary concert at Folsom Prison, and The Man in Black, in which Beck argues that if the gospel according to Johnny Cash is anything, it's standing with the outcasts and outlaws of the world. Further he states that the Cash gospel is rooted in solidarity, a theme that recurs throughout. The best part of this fine book is its haunting treatment of the last days of Cash's career and his recording of two timeless songs, Trent Reznor's Hurt and his own The Man Comes Around. A must read for Cash's legion of fans..(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)