Five Feet High and Rising
Johnny Cash · 1974
21 min · 9 tracks · blues
A heartfelt collection of country and folk storytelling, weaving together themes of loss, longing, and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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In Them Old Cottonfields Back Home Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry — This cover captures the essence of Cash's emotional depth, transforming a classic into a haunting reflection on solitude and heartache.
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Five Feet High and Rising — The title track stands out for its vivid imagery and metaphor for overcoming life's challenges, showcasing Cash's unique narrative style.
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Don’t Take Your Guns to Town — This song illustrates Cash's ability to blend storytelling with moral lessons, making it one of the most memorable tracks on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's storytelling and traditional sound create a strong sense of place and emotion.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, primarily guitar and banjo, creating a traditional folk sound.
- Each track typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with storytelling lyrics that reflect themes of rural life and personal struggle.
- The tempo varies slightly across the tracks, but most maintain a steady, moderate pace that invites reflective listening.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- brief narrative journey through heartache
- reflective moments of solitude
- easy listening during quiet afternoons
- poignant tales of resilience
- front-loaded emotional impact
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Solid entry that showcases Cash's narrative style but isn't a primary highlight in his catalog.
- Themes
- floodwater symbolism· rural nostalgia· heartbreak tales
- Moods
- Melancholy· Chill
- Career context
- By the release of Five Feet High and Rising in 1974, Johnny Cash was transitioning into a phase defined by his embrace of Americana and traditional sounds. This album followed his acclaimed live recordings at Folsom Prison and San Quentin, marking a continued evolution in his artistic direction that embraced more personal and narrative-driven songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Willie Nelson· Merle Haggard· Waylon Jennings
Tracklist
- 1 In Them Old Cottonfields Back Home Start here 2:33
- 2 I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:40
- 3 Frankie’s Man, Johnny 2:19
- 4 In the Jailhouse Now 2:22
- 5 My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You 2:25
- 6 Don’t Take Your Guns to Town 3:04
- 7 Great Speckled Bird 2:04
- 8 Five Feet High and Rising 1:49
- 9 I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know 2:29
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Explores similar rural themes and narrative storytelling with a blend of country and folk elements.
Revival
Gillian Welch
Shares a poignant blend of traditional American music and heart-wrenching storytelling.
Our Mother the Mountain
Townes Van Zandt
Features evocative lyrics about heartache and resilience in a raw, folk-infused country sound.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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