American Recordings is the 81st album by the country singer Johnny Cash. It was released on April 26, 1994 by American Recordings, after it had changed its name from Def American. The album marked the beginning of a career resurgence for Cash, who was widely recognized as an icon of American music but whose record sales had suffered during the late 1970s and 1980s.
The “Tennessee Stud” was recorded live at the Viper Room, a Sunset Strip, Los Angeles nightclub owned at the time by Johnny Depp.
“The Tennessee Stud” was written by James Corbitt Morris (June 20, 1907 – July 12, 1998), known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, an American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs “The Battle of New Orleans” and “Tennessee Stud”. Driftwood wrote more than 6,000 folk songs, of which more than 300 were recorded by various musicians.
Back about eighteen and twenty-five
I left Tennessee very much alive
I never would have made it through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn’t been riding on the Tennessee Stud
Had some trouble with my sweetheart’s pa
One of her brothers was a bad outlaw
I wrote a letter to my Uncle Fud
And I rode away on the Tennessee Stud
The Tennessee Stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
There never was a horse like the Tennessee Stud
Drifted on down into no man’s land
I crossed the river called the Rio Grande
I raced my horse with the Spaniards bold
‘Til I got me a skinful of silver and gold
Me and a gambler, we couldn’t agree
We got in a fight over Tennessee
We pulled our guns, he fell with a thud
And I rode away on the Tennessee Stud
The Tennessee Stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
There never was a horse like the Tennessee Stud
I rode right back across Arkansas
And I whipped her brother and I whipped her pa
I found that girl with the golden hair
And she was riding on a Tennessee mare
Pretty little baby on the cabin floor
A little horse colt playing ’round the door
I love the girl with the golden hair
And the Tennessee Stud loves the Tennessee Mare
The Tennessee Stud was long and lean
The color of the sun and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood
There never was a horse like the Tennessee Stud
Songwriters: JAMES DRIFTWOOD
I heard this song some years ago before Johnny’s version, by Doc Watson. Here’s the Doc Watson version:
Tao Talk 
Great song Li.
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Both versions kick butt. Glad you like it.
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Great selection- coloring with song! Johnny Cash ruled! You know he’s been gone nearly 16 years but it seems like he is still around.
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Thanks Hans. I know exactly what you mean about Johnny still being around. He lives on ❤ Hey, I listened to G's Cloud Nine this morning before I left. I can see why you like it.
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Kids today who weren’t even around or if they were -were still infants when Johnny died- like him. I don’t know how many of my students this decade when I asked what music they liked said “Johnny Cash” as one of the artists. . Glad you enjoyed Cloud 9!
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Johnny Cash crosses more generations than anyone… Great Coloring
I love Cloud Nine… Devil’s Radio, Wreck of the Hesperus, and Someplace Else are great….
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I believe it about Johnny Cash. Thanks on the coloring. It was one I printed off a coloring page. Cloud Nine is really good. I listened to it while getting ready to go to an appointment this morning.
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When that came out in the late eighties I wore it out. It was a very bright spot to me. The hit song is alright but I love the others…the title song with Clapton playing guitar is great also.
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Which one is that? I’ve only listened to it once.
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Cloud Nine….the song
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Oh, the first song on the album. I’m going to listen to it again tonight while I’m coloring.
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The whole album is so tight…I thought this album would open George’s output again…it did with the Wiburys but no more solo albums until his death.
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I read a little on the G Harrison book I’ve got on loan from the library today. It said something about social anxiety, and that after he got connected with Ravi, the draw of the eastern philosophies was stronger than the draw of the cutthroat world of the music industry. I can see where that could be the case.
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Yes I can see that…I’m selfish…I wanted more music
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Does Dhani make new music? Or does he act as steward and promoter of his dad’s work?
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He did make some in a group called Thenewno2
He also put out a solo album a couple of years ago…I havent heard it. He seems really nice like his dad but more outgoing…always really nice.
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ok thanks
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Love that album, very dark, naturally (‘Delia’s Gone’ would be a prime example) I hope that horse has a name, fine looking nag.
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Tennessee is what he’s called in the song…
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I didn’t connect that dot. Well glad to know, better than America’s song 🙂
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