Cash, Johnny - What Is Truth? Lyrics






The old man turned off the radio
Said, "Where did all of the old songs go?
Kids sure play funny music these days
They play it in the strangest ways"
Said, "It looks to me like they've all gone wild
It was peaceful back when I was a child"
Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
Are trying to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What is truth?"

A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
"Son, that's when people fight and die"
The little boy of three says "Daddy, why?"
A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
Being taught the golden rule
And by the time another year has gone around
It may be his turn to lay his life down
Can you blame the voice of youth for asking
"What is truth?"

A young man sittin' on the witness stand
The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
"Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
The man looked down at his long hair
And although the young man solemnly swore
Nobody seems to hear anymore
And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What is truth?"

The young girl dancing to the latest beat
Has found new ways to move her feet
The young man speaking in the city square
Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
Are going to be the leaders in a little while
This old world's wakin' to a new born day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What is truth?"
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What is truth?"





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Cash, Johnny What Is Truth? Comments
  1. D.... S....

    I remember listening to this song on the jukebox when I was about 10 years old. Didn't understand back then, I'm 57 now, its totally clear to me.

  2. F.... M....

    “Thumbs up” if you discovered/rediscovered this jewel on Ken Burns’ Country Music...

  3. R.... J....

    Wonder who could learn from this...

  4. R.... ....

    And the lonely voice of youth cries, "Ok, boomer"

  5. C.... R....

    Needed more today than ever

  6. N.... ....

    Johnny Cash purposely stayed out of politics. Many people try and claim that this is an anti-war piece, but I disagree. I believe that this piece was merely trying to ensure that everyone knows the full truth, and that people deserve to know what they are fighting for, and why they should be willing to lay down their life. As John Carter Cash said, his dad was trying to say that he was not a dove or hawk (War Protestor and War Supporter respectively), but he was a dove with claws, who must be convinced of fighting of it were necessary.

  7. P.... ....

    Thanks Netflix for once😁 👏👏

  8. d.... d....

    Johnny was one of those rare individuals who saw issues with finer granularity than his peers. While some in opposition to the Vietnam conflict were greeting returning troops with hostility, Johnny was on a USO tour supporting troops engaged in a conflict he opposed.

    The subject of this song is timeless and mirrors the polarization of politics in American government. Both issues are fundamentally the same. Both began when a political party or a generation refused to consider the other perspective, and ultimately lead to everyone involved forgetting how to disagree while maintaining respect for those disagreed with.

    With politics specifically, the division is fertilized by subjective jabs, criticisms, spins, distortions, omissions, and outright lies from news media, pundits, political talk show hosts, and late-night monologues. Biggest part of this problem... WE THE PEOPLE CONSUME THAT SHIT!

    The only way out is to relearn objectivity and respect, and re-establish a dialogue where all sides of an issue LISTEN with OPEN HEARTS. Only then can we rebuild trust and work together on the issues the Constitution says government is supposed to deal with.

  9. l.... ....

    You don't have to be a country music fan to love Johnny Cash

  10. l.... ....

    Johnny Cash is truth

  11. I.... S....

    Mr. Ken Burns ya done it again!

  12. B.... ....

    This song applies in so many ways with everything going on today.

  13. M.... E....

    That question, "What is truth?", was directed to the greatest man who ever lived. The person who asked the question didn't realize who he was talking to. Imagine the answer he could have heard if he didn't walk away right after asking the question. Pontius Pilate let the truth slip right through his hands, as many do today!

    M.... E....

    If only Jesus was real lol

    M.... E....

    "...yet the demons believe and shudder." James 2:19

  14. D.... K....

    Amen Fuck War

  15. B.... C....

    Where are all these bandwagon ass people coming from? Netflix?

  16. T.... M....

    God used Johnny Cash to speak to President Nixon with this song. And for many Presidents after.

  17. H.... ....

    Johnny and the Hippies won in the end.

  18. P.... B....

    I've been a big fan of JC since I was 20 and I thought I have heard all of his great songs and then I watch the Netflix doc and hear this and suddenly I realise that I need to dig more because this is a great and powerful song.

  19. T.... D....

    He could very easily be singing that to Trump now, just like Nixon then.

  20. A.... N....

    If you need to watch the documentary to understand the song...uhhhh...yeah

  21. 1.... ....

    How relevant is this to today

  22. J.... R....

    From my understanding, a conversation Johnny Cash had with Billy Graham was the inspiration for this song. They wanted to figure out how to present the gospel to younger crowds.

  23. C.... M....

    Nani is truth

  24. T.... I....

    A song that should be todays (2019) Anthem.

  25. D.... C....

    Recently discovered this gem on the album 1970 - The Best Year of my life! cd hits collection. It's not on his 2cd Essential album that I have.

  26. J.... C....

    One of his best.

  27. T.... B....

    I love Johnny Cash and I love this song! I get goosebumps every time I listen to it!!

  28. D.... B....

    songs these days are crap

    D.... B....

    Ah, the first verse is about you then.

  29. P.... R....

    Johnny sang this song in White House to president Nixon. Song was very deeply against Vietnam war. Asking "what is truth" Cash meant The Truth of the war in Vietnam and Nixon noticed it. Two weeks later Nixon and USA started large bombing in Cambodia and Vietnam.

  30. D.... A....

    Time to hear this again!

  31. M.... ....

    Will be playing this loud when Trump gets impeached.

  32. C.... H....

    They are asking but the devil's lies is what they think is truth this statement has nothing to do with politics just life

  33. C.... T....

    Watch the documentary on Netflix called: "Tricky Dick and the man in black". Then u will know what the song is about! Great documentary! Great song!

    C.... T....

    That's what brought me to this song

    C.... T....

    RIP the dove with claws

    C.... T....

    I just watched it, and I loved it!

    C.... T....

    Where are all these new “fans” coming from. Y’all don’t know Johnny

    C.... T....

    I just watched it...excellent

  34. R.... C....

    Maybe I am wrong, but this music was composed for an apresentation at the White House. After a declaration in his TV program asking people to trust the government, Nixon called him with the intention to use Johnny Cash to help his government image, he also asked him to play two songs, one that joked with poor people and need of government assistence and other apologetic of the country life against the hippies. Cash went, but dint play those songs and finish the apresentation with this new composition with a indirect and respectfull but extremely strong critic to Nixon, sited a few steps in front of him. Johnny Cash, what a wonderful person and artist. (Im brazillian, sorry for my rusty english)

    R.... C....

    Yes, I've heard the story about Johnny Cash playing this song at The WhiteHouse for Nixon. Nixon had requested "Welfare Cadillac", but Cash told Nixon his band didn't have the musical arrangements for it and played "What is Truth" instead. I bet it really ticked 'Tricky Dick' off. Johnny Cash showed me a side of himself I hadn't seen before and I was a fan of his for the rest of his life and still am.

    R.... C....

    starman1968ful he purposely stayed out of politics. Many people try and claim that this is an anti-war piece, but I disagree. I believe that this piece was merely trying to ensure that everyone knows the full truth, and that people deserve to know what they are fighting for, and why they should be willing to lay down their life. As John Carter Cash said, his dad was trying to say that he was not a dove or hawk (War Protestor and War Supporter respectively), but he was a dove with claws, who must be convinced of fighting of it were necessary.

  35. k.... w....

    i love johnny cash that song is beautiful just beautiful

  36. P.... S....

    The old man turned off the radio
    Said: Where did all of the old songs go
    Kids sure play funny music these days
    They play it in the strangest ways
    Said: it looks to me like they've all gone wild
    It was peaceful back when I was a child
    Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
    Are trying to be heard above your noise?
    And the lonely voice of youth cries: What is truth?

    A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
    Looks up and says: Daddy, what is war?
    Son, that's when people fight and die
    The little boy of three says: Daddy, why?
    A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
    Being taught the golden rule
    And by the time another year has gone around
    It may be his turn to lay his life down
    Can you blame the voice of youth for asking: What is truth?

    A young man sittin' on the witness stand
    The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
    "Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
    The man looked down at his long hair
    And although the young man solemnly swore
    Nobody seems to hear anymore
    And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
    It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
    And the lonely voice of youth cries: What is truth?

    The young girl dancing to the latest beat
    Has found new ways to move her feet
    The young man speaking in the city square
    Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
    Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
    Are going to be the leaders in a little while
    This old world's wakin' to a new born day
    And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
    You better help the voice of youth find: What is truth?

  37. M.... B....

    This song was around during the Vietnam War and the Nixon government. Or should I say Tricky Dick! Dick flat out lied to the American people several times just like the orange does today except the American people especially the young hippies CARED about being lied to. Trumpers know the orange is lying and they simply don't care. Johnny Cash played this song at the White House right in front of Nixon. Johnny is the original rebel! God bless you and keep you safe Johnny Cash.

    M.... B....

    Trump does not know he is lying.
    He honestly believes that he wrote a book and many other false things.

  38. S.... S....

    Love!! You Johnny..

  39. J.... W....

    man, back then it actually took talent to make music, the kids today are busy making their hip ho....wait a second.

    J.... W....

    ^best comment^

    J.... W....

    speaks volumes !

  40. R.... G....

    Not CNN

  41. k.... ....

    I find it incredibly disappointing there are people who are so stuck in their ways that they completely misinterpret this song and go on believing that the whole song is meant to demean the youth of the generation.

  42. P.... O....

    America has produced some giants, this guy was a giant. What a great soul, rest in peace.

  43. l.... b....

    Wow real music .thank you god for Johny cash

  44. J.... M....

    The USA has been at war for basically the whole time it has been a country. The rich get richer while the poor people kill each other in wars over resources.

  45. C.... O....

    I wonder if this was meant as a sort of response to Merle Haggard's Okie From Muskogee and/or The Fightin' Side Of Me.

  46. E.... ....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLpE1Pa8vvI

  47. A.... H....

    JC classic

  48. R.... H....

    People seem to be misinterpreting this song. This is actually criticizing how the older population reacted to the baby boomers and hippies of the 60s. It is about how an older generation always seems to look down on the younger one.

    "The ones you're calling wild, are going to be the leaders in awhile" Johnny talks about how the young generation will be the leaders of the future. The future is always in the hands of the young.

  49. H.... K....

    Love it cash is King

  50. T.... C....

    I think people miss the point of this song. Its a word of warning to the older generation to stop being hostile towards youth and guide and teach them instead of condemning them out of hand.

    T.... C....

    @derek haworth The answer to "What is truth?" certainly isn't "Anything Trump says"

    T.... C....

    Obviously you haven't read any of Johnny cashs books

    T.... C....

    @derek haworth You're right, people do still stereotype. I reckon a good example is when people talk shit about millennials, as if they know them all.

    T.... C....

    and lying to them

    T.... C....

    @derek haworth you got some issues there Derek lol!!

  51. A.... H....

    What is truth

  52. K.... B....

    God admit this is 1984!

  53. S.... ....

    Johnny Cash should be declared a National Monument.

  54. D.... S....

    late sixties early seventies johnny cash is the best

  55. G.... P....

    And so the cycle continues.

  56. D.... B....

    My favorite Johnny Cash song.

  57. T.... H....

    Dårlig lyd

  58. S.... E....

    this is eeal music

  59. C.... J....

    A true poet! Your missed Mr Cash 😔

  60. J.... M....

    brother cash always speaks the truth listen and learn R.I.P brother john

  61. E.... S....

    Sunday School pricks even lied for their own Vanity.

  62. M.... P....

    Rightly so, this song made Johnny Cash a hero of the young people who tried to change the course and attitude of America in the 60's.

  63. S.... C....

    1000 likes, should be way more...

  64. T.... J....

    Jesus it the truth ! Praise the Lord

    T.... J....

    @Tomislav Juric Bibicial archaeology makes sense.There is understanding ---in archaeology.
    But just to say---- Jesus is the Truth---doesn't give people the understanding ---WHY--Jesus is the Truth.

    T.... J....

    Jesus is very very far away from truth and very very close to bs.

    T.... J....

    @ondaride777 LOL ok whatever,believe what you want.Makes no differance----I've never met Jesus Christ.God has never spoke to me in an audiable voice. I' ve never seen angels-----BUT my life changed --after following the instructions in the scriptures.You can say what you want--.LOL

    But I'm not going to enguage in a stupid argument with a fool.bye.

    T.... J....

    Tomislav Juric I'm Jewish

    T.... J....

    @Ockie Ditchbank you seem to have a lot of hate and anger pent up inside you. I think maybe you should ask Jesus for some guidance. All he wants is to help you

  65. J.... ....

    God's Word KJV is Truth!
    If you know Christ -
    Christ in You is Living Truth!
    Thank you for uploading. Classic

    J.... ....

    @•Team Exo• Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, Voodoo, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Judism, Taoism are all older than Christianity and they still have millions of followers guess there all true too then. They have never gone away.

    J.... ....

    Ricky Hunt

    I’m NOT trying to just be like “hey your wrong there’s nothing you can do about it, get over it, cause what I say is true and what you say isn’t.”
    That is NOT what I’m trying to be like at all.
    I just am trying to point out that if you do some deep research, you’ll find answers if your open to the truth. These religious groups may be old, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are true. I can’t fully explain. Like I said though, do some research. It’s a bit better and more explanatory then me trying to tell you.

    J.... ....

    @•Team Exo• I have done research and I know the Truth Christianity is nothing more than mythology its something people came up with thousands of years ago to explain things they didn't understand same with all religions. They are made by men who didn't understand their world and desperately wanted to make sense of it.

    J.... ....

    Ricky Hunt

    Well, I cant say I didn’t try. You believe what you want to believe, I’ll believe what I want to believe.

    J.... ....

    @•Team Exo• You can believe things that aren't true all you want. I will stick to science and reason. You don't have to believe in those I guess As Neil Degrasse Tyson said "The Great Thing about Science is its true whether you believe it or not" unlike religion.

  66. c.... ....

    Absolutely fucking timeless.

    c.... ....

    I first heard this song on a Canadian AM station during a summer vacation in 1970. You are right. It's as relevant today as it was in 1970.

    c.... ....

    Dope fucking name yo

  67. J.... A....

    Who are the 11 jaq-offs who gave this masterpiece a thumbs down. Musta been looking for a Justin Bleiber song

    J.... A....

    Probably on phones where the like and dislike icons are close together and had a finger slip. It's happened to me. Really can't see how anyone could have a problem with JC

    J.... A....

    Jim Abbott you do know one of the themes of the song is about criticising the youth.

    J.... A....

    justin beaver*

    J.... A....

    Oh, the irony.

    J.... A....

    @Flavortown LOL my first thought too

  68. A.... L....

    truth is a matter of opinion...

    A.... L....

    Nope truth is fact opinion is ur version of events.

    A.... L....

    Truth is based on facts and the current state of the situation, that those facts are being used in.
    One day, something might be true, but tomorrow it may change. Just like gender, which is based on facts like which reproductive organs that a person has.

    A.... L....

    Abiasaf López is that true?

    A.... L....

    Jesus is truth

    A.... L....

    Chris Karathanasis Nah

  69. D.... B....

    Guitar Transcription available. Message me.

  70. G.... B....

    Feking brillient

  71. A.... ....

    Same shit different day. Nothing has changed at all. The court still profiles and parents still have no understanding of their parents. People hate youth for being different. How about you take two fucking seconds out of your miserable life and try to understand the next generation instead of wailing on them with "back in the day" stories of handed down "wisdom". 

    A.... ....

    If that's how you truthfully feel, I am saddened for you. You seem to have loss your faith in humanity,

  72. f.... ....

    Pontius Pilate asked the same question... and then he walked away.  People are more interested in inventing truth then finding it...

    f.... ....

    sin = separation from God = suffering

    f.... ....

    @flanfan1212 Sin is using the concept of god to justify what you know intuitively is wrong. Without god, good people will do good and bad people will do bad. It takes religion for good people to do bad.

    f.... ....

    @Freethinksman There are no good people, Sir. All have fallen from Grace. The only difference between the "good" and the bad is who paid the price for our great cost.
    We can try to pay our way, scrambling and clawing away for our entire lives full of few noble moments compared to flawed. God be only...

    f.... ....

    Hard to believe how many delusional religious looneys there still are in the world with their pinheaded flat earth and fall from grace nonsense and their moronic Noah's ark stupidity. Learn to read a science book for once. The only life you will get is this one, stop wasting it on superstitious bronze age fairy tales for goat herding illiterates.

  73. P.... _....

    This is a poem written by Muhammed Ali.

  74. 3.... ....

    Awesome Cash Tune!!!!

    3.... ....

    321reh Mohammad Ali wrote it as a poem for Johnny Cash.

  75. C.... S....

    Entered Cashbox April 11, 1970

  76. O.... ....

    my grandma meet him in a gas station market in 1990 something

    O.... ....

    Oshawott sureee

    O.... ....

    I know Johnny Cash's family they go to my church

    O.... ....

    @josephhumbles It's not that he hid at home like Elvis. Sure, Elvis went outside, but then he usually tried to mask himslef as much as possible. I've read several stories of people meeting Johnny Cash. One guy even met him on a rural road in the 60's. It turned out Cash had run out of gasoline in his car, so he gave him a lift to the nearest gas station and back.

  77. N.... M....

    beautiful

  78. P.... B....

    During the first verse I can't help but think of bro-country

  79. A.... J....

    "The ones that you're calling wild
    are going to be the leaders in a little while
    This whole world's wakin' to a new born day
    and I solemnly swear that it will be their way"

    Those words were very prophetic from 44 years ago, because that is exactly what has happened in this country . . . . and they don't know the TRUTH.

    A.... J....

    Yeah, we got screwed by that generation. The truth was not told, but lies in the place of truth. And a lie is almost always sweeter than the truth.

    A.... J....

    Admon Johnson You missed the point of the song.

    A.... J....

    I'd rather be left behind than adapt to the new ages. And that's coming from a 17 year old!

    A.... J....

    THE MYCLE CYCLE like the river doesn’t stop, so time does not stop. Time does not care about your preferences. Adapt to the changing times. Chose not to at your own risk. Just kidding idk, maybe

    A.... J....

    @cameron pinter what a stupid comment

  80. A.... H....

    Man,what is truth? I've come to find out its elusive at best.

    A.... H....

    Truth is what is

    A.... H....

    now, you should be asking, what is THE truth, the way and the life.

  81. T.... F....

    "I am am the way,,truth,and the light" -Jesus Yeah, I thought it was rubbish to. Then I got in the lay your life down for others business on a global scale. Got one of those educations you buy in a class room then earn in blood. You will always be a prisoner .until you give up the greed for that precious empire of dirt.

  82. A.... B....

    Johnny is the god of music

  83. l.... p....

    but this guy is fucking immortal - just because he doesn't breath anymore doesn't mean he died

  84. m.... ....

    hadn't heard of it till i heard a cover of it from his memorial...amazing lyrics

  85. S.... ....

    Some people don't know what the truth even is.

  86. B.... B....

    1:16 - 1:40 that right there is truth. Those are great lines that are saying that even if a man in court swears he's telling the truth, the people in the court don't believe him anyway just because of the way he looks.

  87. c.... ....

    huh?????

  88. C.... ....

    This song is as powerful today as it was in 1970. Only Johnny Cash could give it its strength.

  89. d.... s....

    THIS SONG IS TRUTH.

  90. s.... ....

    is really true. im part of the the new generation and i want to know what is truth.

  91. m.... b....

    he knew...

  92. S.... H....

    I don't give a shit about your age but I like this song

  93. t.... t....

    my favourite johnny cash song the man in black was a heartfelt person with an amazing way with words great singer and songwriter this song always touches my heart because truth is a very important thing i respect those who are genuine and i hope that the youth of today understand about truth

  94. G.... B....

    First heard this in the summer of , the words live today as they did then. class act

  95. C.... ....

    Most every song he ever sang had a story to tell, a moral of truth~!
    Even his "Grand Canyon Suite" was awesome~!,,, And with his wife, June, listen to "IF I WERE A CARPENTER",,, an awesome love song~!~!

  96. R.... Y....

    "you'd better help the voice of youth find 'what is truth?'" best line of this great song

  97. w.... ....

    Thank you,,,,God bless,,:)

  98. M.... M....

    Summer of 70