Brad Paisley Shares ‘Magical’ Posthumous Collaboration With Johnny Cash
Brad Paisley is paying tribute to one of country music's greatest legends in a new song. Paisley honors the words and legacy of Johnny Cash on his new album Love & War with a song titled "Gold All Over the Ground."
The track comes from a poem Cash wrote in 1967 about his unwavering love for his wife and fellow country legend, June Carter Cash. Paisley's music combined with Cash's words paint a beautiful picture as he sings "And I'd bundle you in kindness until you cling to me / We'd sit beneath strong branches / My arms would twine around / I'd turn your green to emerald / And give you gold all over the ground," with Paisley borrowing the exact words from the poem, accompanied by a sweet-sounding guitar and mandolin. He also utilizes clips of Cash speaking at the beginning and end of the song.
The poem was first brought to public light when it was published in Cash's poetry collection, Forever Words, which was finally released in 2016, 13 years after his death. Other works featured in the book include "I Have Been Around," the tongue-in-cheek "I Wish You a Merry Christmas," "If You Love Me" and several other previously unreleased poems.
Paisley calls the posthumous collaboration "absolutely one of the most meaningful things I've ever had the privilege of being a part of" in a video he posted to social media. He got a call from Cash's son, John Carter Cash, inviting him to set the poem to music. Cash is trying to make sure that his father's lesser-known works continue to find avenues for release.
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He visited Paisley at the country star's house, where Paisley spontaneously wrote the new song around Cash's words.
"It felt divine. It felt very much like your father has been waiting on this to happen," Paisley tells John Carter Cash, joking, "He's actually one of the more pleasant co-writes I've had. He's a lot more fun to be in a room with than Bill Anderson."
He calls the experience of cutting the song with the younger Cash producing "magical."
"This is one of the highlights of my life," Paisley says.
The new track is sure to be a standout on the new record, set for release on April 21. Paisley has been providing fans with a taste of Love & War with the release of many other songs off the new project. The album's first single "Today" was released in October of 2016 and recently topped the country charts. He's also shared new tracks "Last Time for Everything," "Heaven South" and the hilarious “Selfie#theinternetisforever," which features a variety of embarrassing photos he collected from fans.
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