Johnny Cash's Worst Song Saved His Career

Ngl, I always liked this tune. Yeah, it's dumb, and clashes with the rest of his material, but that's what makes it fun.

"I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it" -Marty Mcfly

Chicken in Black clucked so Hurt could cry.

Met him once. I was a photographer's assistant in Nashville in the 80s. Another photographer was renting our studio for a photo shoot. I was in the tiny dressing room and I felt a presence behind me. I turned around and Johnny was standing there holding a suit on a hanger. He asked, "Can I hang this here?" I said, "Oh of course." That was the extent of our interaction but I new I had been in the presence of greatness.

The song felt like a Weird Al song before Weird Al existed. I kinda liked it as a Johnny Cash fan.

You know he had a great career if chicken in black was his worst song

That snapshot of him shaking the hand of an inmate with the same hair as him at 3:26 is iconic

I don't know if I just have bad taste but I think chicken in black is a straight banger

"when god forgave me i figured i better too.", that got me like a bag of bricks

I like this song, unironically, every song he wrote didn't have to be serious, he was a deeply Christian man, he had children, I believe he liked children, I think wanted to make some more songs that were very of their time, topical, funny, lighthearted fare that a father could play around his family without Johnny singing about cocaine and shooting people just to watch them die. Johnny's sense of humor may have been a touch off, however you must remember he took amphetamines, stimulants , sedatives, pain killers and drank for years. He relapsed many times and the song may have been the result of a manic state however, it was relatively harmless fun. I like this song.

I can’t believe that there could’ve been a timeline where Chicken in Black was the final song that Johnny Cash made.

I'm surprised you didn't mention his time with the highwaymen. That is some of his best work, during a time that most consider his worst time.

He was good friends with my grandfather. Has dinner with him at my grandad's house several times as a kid. Friendly man but absolutely terrifying to me as a child. Wished I had spoke with him more

The only thing cooler than announcing a robbery is doing it in song I loved this track immediately

Im so grateful for Johnny and his music, and for what Rick Rubin did for him.

Great video. I came here to see that "Chicken in Black" song and the music video since it's going viral on TikTok rn.

Nobody is cooler than Johnny Cash.

I'm a sucker for stupid random songs that don't fit with anything else the artist has made. and this song is no exception. but learning about the symbolism in the song really helps me get a new appreciation for it. Also, its really nice to see people who aren't older into Johnny Cash. makes me feel not alone haha

Really shows his sense of humour and without the video wouldn't of been seen as so silly and it's catchy as hell and tbh I'd love to see a whole sitcom series of the "Manhattan flash" 'cmon stick em up im robbing this bank"

Thanks for this video! I didn't know about "Chicken In Black" . But I have been a Cash fan since I saw him as the singer and murderer Tommy Brown who was hunted down by Inspector Columbo in the episode Swan Song. But then I lost track of him for a few decades. When his great work with Rick Rubin came out, I thought it was better than everything Cash had done before! Rick Rubin and Cash had stripped away all the ridiculous trappings of country music. There was just a man with a still powerful voice and his guitar. This work totally changed our perception of Johnny Cash. It’s great that it happened before he died.