Johnny Cash - Forty Shades Of Green

[juanahuntsman]

great video..thank you for sharing!

[galti111]

I'm from west Belfast. It's amazing how many people round my way don't know this song was written by the man in black!

[MrMichael7231]

liamthedream, It was during his farewell speech at Shannon Airport President Kennedy uttered those poignantly hainting words. I distinctly remember watching live TV coverage of his departure.

[liamthedream]

The story i got was when Johnny first hit the Big Time around 1961, one of his wishes was to go to Ireland to connect with his Irish-Scotch roots. He was so taken in by the scenery that he was inspired to write the song. Jack Kennedy came as President in June '63. He on his way up the mobile stairs to board US1, he turned around, and said to President DeValera, his wife and the crowd, I'll be back in the Springtime, alas, it was never to be.......

[edeire29]

had the pleasure of meetin johnny cash in the 80s while i lived in the states,and asked him about this song

this is what he told me,on he way back from germany as solider the plane landed in ireland to refuel he seen the shades of green as he landed and wrote the song on the runway while waitin,when i asked how he knew the names and places he said the guy beside me was irish,thats what the man in black told me n i believe hm

[Moc870]

johnny wrote this song when he was here in ireland he seen all the different shades of green so thats how he got the title, and president john F. kennedy came to ireland a few weeks after and took a look out his window and said (i see johnny cash's 40 shades of green) im irish so of course i love this song. num1 fan R.I.P. JOHNNY!

[swimologist8]

But do the Irish have some folk system for measuring green in gradations or is this just what Johnny perceives? Of course, being a bog trotter himself, he has da ken, donya know?

[josparkes1]

A brilliant performer wonderful man and entertainer !

[eodoherty47]

My late Mother used to sing and hum this while baking...when i came in from school

[albionlemonde]

did he write thats song? if somebody knows,,please let me know

[jameswp1946]

yes, he did

[Greenestgurl]

Yes, he wrote it. I heard the song came to him as he flew into Ireland and saw all the different colors of green patches of land from his plane. Beautiful song from a man who loved the Ould Sod. Miss Mr. Cash and Miss June very much.

[neroldrehpehs]

ehh this takes me back to a better time

[clanntara]

Beautiful. Think that Johny wrote this song before his 1st visit to Ireland although he traveled there many times thereafter.

[Mass1769]

Are you really from Clonntara?

County Clare?

Do you know the Honan"s?

How is Fintan keeping?

Regards to Colm.

[remedy63]

26 + 6 = 1

32 county Ireland

Tiocfaidh ar la!! (Our Day will come)

[xXxlindamariexXx]

I love this song :) I love Johnny, hes a legend!!

[DAZZAMAGOO]

delivered like only he can. pure legend.

[StollyDolly]

Beautiful song. The Great Johnny Cash RIP.xx

[bamp91]

lol he says he wrote it in 1961 in this video and in another one he says he wrote it in 1959...

awell great song..

rip johnny

[Deanslice]

You are right, I noticed that too! He does say in another video he wrote this in 1959.

[Sturla123]

I noticed it too, but I don't think Ol' Johnny would've said that he wrote it if he hadn't. I just can't imagine him lying.

R.I.P.

[Deanslice]

I don't doubt that the man wrote it, but he has most definitely mixed up his years!

[Sturla123]

Yeah, that's for sure ;)

[msymsed]

No...I checked it out and he did indeed release the song in April, 1961.

[msymsed]

Well, where he may have messed up is in saying he WROTE it in 1961. He released the song in April of 1961.

[guitar87tommy]

I love this song

[ActivServiceUnit]

He wrote it in Dingle, didn't he?? Up outta that Johnny!

[JohnCHarte]

He actually used to stay in Co Sligo. But im sure he was in Co Kerry too.

[floreoma]

The Pub Singers in Tully Cross, Co. Galway do a great cover of this song. It takes me back straight away to hear the original. Here's to Frank and Kyran Coyne!

[fortunatfool09]

he's never been to ireland

[JohnCHarte]

I think you will find he did come to Ireland. I know where he used to stay in Ireland. It is in a lovely house in the West of Ireland. The occupants of the house have left the room, as it was when he used to stay in it! Johnny Cash's family returned to the house (after he died) and asked to stay in it. This was while renovation work was going on! But they still insisted on staying!

[filum4ever]

OMG-of course he played here.

[Armstrong112]

Then why is there a DVD that is called JOhnny Cash Live in Ireland

[drsprudel]

yes he has my late grandfather was on the special police and johnny went 2 thank him

[fortunatfool09]

I meant before he wrote this song he had never been to ireland. forgot to mention that

[jul150]

I just simply love Johnny Cash, always have and always will. This song is absolutely beautiful.

[ulsterstan]

Great song Johnny wrote when on tour in Ireland.