Feeling a bit introspective – saw this & it got me thinking… what’s it mean “God’s gonna cut you down?” This thought was magnified as I watched the video (embedded, courtesy of YouTube) & saw many, many famous (& famously irreverent &/or non-religious) types mouthing the lyrics…
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head’s been wet with the midnight dew
I’ve been down on bended knee talkin’ to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel’s feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, “John go do My will!”
Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut ’em down
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin’ in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What’s done in the dark will be brought to the light
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time, run on for a long time
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Sooner or later God’ll cut you down
Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down
Tell ’em that God’s gonna cut you down
This sounds like a great multiple choice question . . .
A. Ridicule through an appropriately placed and well-timed sarcastic remark.
B. Lop off the lower limbs with a flaming sword.
C.Humble him.
D.Fell him like the tree he is.
E. All of the above.
I like Johnny Cash and I actually wish I knew what he meant, but I don’t . . . basically, was he portraying the judging/vengeful God or something deeper?
The songs sounds autobiographical to me.
i would agree with georgia. it sounds like he’s talking about himself and how he was cut down and/or humbled by God. i think that some (probably all) of the people in the video will experience a different kind of cutting down in their own lives, but i’m sure they’ve heard it all before . . .
good song, btw
TPT- C would be my choice, though E may be better suited…
G & DAP- perhaps it is autobiographical, a visit with his past experiences… also interesting is the “they’ve heard it all before” – take. I think you hit the nail on the head Brintus… they have heard it & have numbed to it, even to the point that they can sing the lyric to the song & not bat an eye. Except when they’re blinking…
i haven’t read any of the other comments yet cause didn’t want to taint my view of this song. i have always thought that this song meant something like someday we are all going to die and what we have done here on earth in our 80+ years will soon be forgotten but God will still remain. that no matter who you are or what you do you will die. this is not eternal. He is eternal. just my thoughts and interpretation of this song.
btw- i only watched the video because the last face on there was that of one of my favorite gals :)