Sophie Bennett
Johnny Cash's The Chicken in Black is a song about Cash getting a brain transplant from a dead bank robber and subsequently turning to a life of crime. It was written by Gary Gentry and released in 1984. Cash later disowned the song, calling it intentionally atrocious in his autobiography, and claimed that he had written it to get out of his record contract with CBS, which dropped him in 1986. Despite this, the song reached number 45 on the U.S. Billboard country chart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | The Chicken in Black |
| Artist | Johnny Cash |
| Year of Release | 1984 |
| Songwriter | Gary Gentry |
| Chart Position | #45 on the Country Chart |
| Reason for Writing | To get out of a bad record contract, as a parody aimed at his label |
| Nature of Song | Goofy, humorous, self-parody |
| Video | Yes |
| Autobiography Mention | Cash called it "intentionally atrocious" |
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What You'll Learn
The song's humorous lyrics
"The Chicken in Black" is a humorous song by Johnny Cash, written by Gary Gentry, about Cash getting a brain transplant from a dead bank robber. The song details how, after the transplant, Cash turns to robbing banks instead of singing. The lyrics describe Cash visiting a doctor due to persistent headaches and being told that his body has "outlived [his] brain". The doctor refers him to a specialist in New York City, who performs a brain transplant, replacing his brain with that of the dead bank robber. As a result of the procedure, Cash finds himself compelled to rob banks, including one in Nashville, and when he performs at the Grand Ole Opry, he robs the audience:
> I said "Stick 'em up everybody, I'm robbing this place
> Drop all of your money in my guitar case
> Don't nobody move and don't nobody reach for that door
> A lady said, "Why, you're Johnny Cash!"
> I said, "No ma'am, I'm the Manhattan Flash
> And I am the best bank robber in New York"
In the song, Cash tries to get his old brain back, but the doctor tells him that it has been implanted in a chicken, which has become a successful country music star with its own TV show, "The Johnny Chicken Show".
The song was released in 1984 and reached number 45 on the US Billboard country chart. Cash later disowned the song, calling it ""intentionally atrocious" in his autobiography, explaining that it was a parody aimed at his record label, CBS, which dropped him two years later.
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A parody of his label
"The Chicken in Black" is a song by Johnny Cash, released in 1984. The song is about Cash getting a brain transplant from a dead bank robber and turning to robbing banks instead of singing. When he asks for his old brain back, he finds out that it has been implanted in a chicken, which has become a successful country music star with its own TV show, "The Johnny Chicken Show".
The song was written by Gary Gentry, and Cash initially loved it, finding it humorous and in line with other silly songs he had recorded over the years, such as "'A Boy Named Sue', which was a #1 hit in 1969. However, Cash later disowned the song, calling it "'intentionally atrocious'" in his autobiography, where he revealed that it was a parody aimed at his label, CBS, which dropped him two years later.
The song has been described as a self-parody, with Cash telling a humorous tale of a personality change following a brain transplant, similar to the story of Frankenstein. The title "The Chicken in Black" is believed to refer to his more controversial and signature hit song, "Man In Black".
Despite Cash's later negative feelings towards the song, it gained some popularity, peaking at #45 on the charts and even becoming a TikTok trend decades after its release.
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A brain transplant
Johnny Cash's "The Chicken in Black" is a humorous song about the country singer getting a brain transplant. The song, written by Gary Gentry, was released in 1984 and reached number 45 on the U.S. Billboard country chart.
In the song, Cash visits a doctor due to persistent headaches and is told that his body has "outlived [his] brain". The doctor refers him to a specialist in New York City, who performs a brain transplant, replacing Cash's brain with that of a dead bank robber. As a result of the procedure, Cash finds himself compelled to rob banks, including during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. When he calls the doctor to ask for his old brain back, he is told that it has been implanted in a chicken, which has become a successful country music star with its own TV show, "The Johnny Chicken Show".
Cash initially liked the song and was pleased with the recording. However, he later disowned it, calling it "'intentionally atrocious'" in his second autobiography. He explained that it was a parody aimed at his label, CBS, which dropped him two years after the song's release. Cash's intention was to get out of his record deal, as he believed the label was neglecting him.
"The Chicken in Black" is just one example of Cash's novelty songs, which also include "'A Boy Named Sue'" and "'One Piece At A Time'". Despite being renounced by Cash, the song has gained a new audience on TikTok, with users creating trends and sharing their dogs by lifting them up and pointing them like guns while singing along to the song's chorus.
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A chicken as a country music star
Johnny Cash, one of the most influential country singer-songwriters, wrote "The Chicken in Black", a song about a chicken becoming a country music star. The song, written by Gary Gentry, tells a humorous tale of Cash getting a brain transplant from a dead bank robber, which turns him into a criminal. When he tries to get his old brain back, the doctor reveals that it has been implanted in a chicken that has become a successful performer with its own TV show, "The Johnny Chicken Show". The chicken is described as "singing his songs and making lots of money" and has even signed a ten-year recording contract.
Cash initially liked the song and found it funny, similar to his other novelty songs like ""A Boy Named Sue" and "One Piece At A Time". He was pleased with the recording and even made a music video for it, in which he dons a yellow spandex bodysuit during his robberies. However, his close friends and family reacted poorly to the song and video, and he later disowned it, calling it ""intentionally atrocious" and a parody aimed at his label, CBS, which dropped him two years later.
Despite its controversial nature, "The Chicken in Black" reached number 45 on the U.S. Billboard country chart and gained new popularity on TikTok, with users creating trends and sharing their dogs by lifting them up like guns while singing the catchy chorus: "I said, 'Stick 'em up everybody, I'm robbing this place / Drop all of your money in my guitar case / Don't nobody move and don't nobody reach for that door'".
So, while the song may not be one of Johnny Cash's most famous hits, it certainly has gained a cult following and showcases his ability to create humorous and entertaining music, even if it was originally intended as a way to get out of a bad record contract.
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The song's video
"The Chicken in Black" is a humorous song by Johnny Cash about a brain transplant gone wrong. The song, written by Gary Gentry, was released in 1984 and reached number 45 on the U.S. Billboard country chart.
The song's music video features Cash dressed in a yellow spandex bodysuit, playing the guitar and acting out the storyline of the song. In the video, Cash undergoes a brain transplant and turns into a bank robber, calling himself "The Manhattan Flash". Despite finding initial success with the recording, Cash later disowned the song, referring to it as ""intentionally atrocious" in his autobiography.
The video for "The Chicken in Black" is light-hearted and playful, with Cash embracing the silly nature of the song. He is seen donning a bright yellow costume, a stark contrast to his usual all-black attire. The video includes scenes of Cash robbing banks and performing on stage, bringing the lyrics to life.
While the song and video were not intended to be taken seriously, they did receive some criticism from close friends and family. June Cash, in particular, is said to have called the song the "nadir" of her husband's 1980s career.
Despite the mixed reactions, "The Chicken in Black" and its accompanying video have gained a cult following over the years, with recent popularity on TikTok. The song's quirky nature and catchy lyrics have charmed a new generation of listeners, introducing them to the iconic Johnny Cash.
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Frequently asked questions
Johnny Cash wrote "The Chicken in Black" as a self-parody, telling a humorous tale of a personality change after a brain transplant.
Johnny Cash was inspired by his own experience of undergoing a brain transplant, which resulted in him getting a brain from a dead bank robber. This led to him becoming a criminal and robbing banks.
"The Chicken in Black" explores the theme of identity and how it can be altered by external factors, such as a brain transplant. It also touches on the idea of fame and success, as the chicken with Johnny Cash's brain becomes a successful country music star.
Johnny Cash later disowned the song, calling it ""intentionally atrocious" in his autobiography. He intended to make a bad song to get out of his record deal with CBS, which dropped him two years later.
The song reached #45 on the Country chart and even peaked at #45 on the U.S. Billboard's country chart. It was not as big as some of Johnny Cash's other hits, but it gained a second life on TikTok and became one of the most popular songs on the platform.
