Johnny Cash, Musician

“Walk the Line” stars Joaquin Phoenix as singer-guitarist Johnny Cash:

The early years in the life and career of music legend Johnny Cash, whose work transcended musical boundaries to reach out to everyone. A testament to making art and music and being young, the film explores the world he came from and his experiences beginning a career during the birth of rock and roll. It also is a love story detailing Cash’s burgeoning relationship with June Carter.

Reese Witherspoon plays June Carter.

For those unfamilar with Johnny Cash (1932-2003), here is an excerpt of one of his songs. In “Man in Black” (1971), he explain why he often wears black clothing:

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.