John Carter Cash grew up surrounded by music, but when he uncovered a collection of his father’s unpublished writings, he saw a new side of Johnny Cash—the poet. Now, those words have found a second life in Forever Words: The Music, a collection where artists like Chris Cornell, Kacey Musgraves, and Brad Paisley set Cash’s poetry to music.
“It started with over 2,000 pages of my father’s writings,” Cash explains. “Some were personal, some were fragments, but around 60 of them stood out as complete works.” Some had likely been set aside, while others, like You Never Knew My Mind, had clear emotional significance. “He wrote that during his breakup with Vivian. It’s heartbreak on the page.”
Cash was selective about who would bring these words to life. “I reached out to artists my dad admired, his family, and people I believed in.” That resulted in a mix of legends and contemporary artists, spanning country, rock, and beyond. “Johnny’s music connects hip-hop artists as much as bluegrass players. This project reflects that.”
One of the album’s most powerful moments comes from Chris Cornell, whose version of You Never Knew My Mind became one of his final recordings. “Chris connected with those lyrics on a deep level,” Cash recalls. “He told me the melody came quickly, but he took his time making sure he got it right.”
Another standout is The Captain’s Daughter, a long-form story song that feels like an old English folk ballad. “That one reads like a novella,” Cash laughs. “You finish it and wonder, ‘Wait, what really happened?’”
Though other members of the Cash family contributed, John Carter chose to stay behind the scenes. “I’m a producer first. That’s my day job. I don’t need to be on every record.” But his own album, We Must Believe in Magic, arrives soon, featuring guest spots from John Prine, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and a cover of Hurt.
In the end, Forever Words isn’t just about preserving Johnny Cash’s legacy—it’s about letting his words keep singing. “Poetry is about connection. If these words still move people, then they’re still alive.”
Listen to the interview above and then check out the clip below.
