Little while pills and whiskey
Honky tonks and smoke
One night stands with his country band
Had him strung out on the ropes
Well, he cried out to Jesus
He said, "Jesus, I tink I"m too lost to save"
He already ahd one foot insidet he grave
As he stepped into the mouth of Nickajack Cave

Everything was darkenss
Wasn't no light at all
Just the cold dank air and the pitch black dirt
And the spiders on teh walls
Well, he laid down beneath a ledge
And curled up there to meet his judgment day
The shivering came upon him wave by wave
Well, he could feel the breath of death in Nickajack Cave

Then high above him shone a light
He never would forget
Then he heard a voice say, "Johnny Cash,
I aint through with you yet
Get up, I aint through with you yet
I aint through with you yet Johnny Cash,
Get up"

Then he crawled out from beneath that ledge
And felt a gentle breeze
Tears and dirt smeared on his face
As peaceful as could be
Well, he knelt down upon the ground
Raised his eyes up to the light and prayed
He said, "Lord, I'll be your servant from this day"
That's how he became "The Man in Black" in Nickajack cave

That's how he became "The Man in Black" in Nickajack cave

Get up Johnny Cash, I ain't through with you yet
Get up