Johnny Cash Show 54-xx-xx (01) First Song - Wide Open Road

Summary

Podcast Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio – Johnny Cash Show 54-xx-xx (01)

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Focus: A rare radio broadcast of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, featuring classic country performances, band introductions, and nostalgic invitations for listener engagement, all wrapped in 1950s Memphis charm.

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners back to the formative days of country radio, spotlighting an early Johnny Cash radio show originally aired on KWEM in Memphis. Cash introduces his band, plays original and sacred songs, personally encourages fan correspondence, and weaves in local advertisements that capture the spirit of mid-century America.

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Key Discussion Points & Musical Performances

Introduction and Atmosphere

• [00:30] The local announcer sets the Memphis scene: “Temperature is 75 degrees. Stay tuned next for Johnny Cash here on Mid South Country.”
• [00:41] In a lighthearted moment, Johnny Cash chimes in to finish the time announcement for the host.
• [00:44] The announcer promotes local theater features, adding to the period authenticity.

Meet Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two

• [01:29] Johnny Cash:
  • Introduces himself and his bandmates—Luther Perkins (guitar) and Marshall Grant (bass).
  • Cash appeals for audience participation:

    “This is our first time to be coming out your way by way of radio. And we sincerely hope you’ll enjoy our program. If you do, we hope you’ll write us a card or letter telling us so…Maybe we can do your favorite song.” (01:29)

“Wide Open Road” – The First Song

• [03:02–05:23]
  • A classic original in which Cash delivers his signature narrative style, blending heartache, wit, and wanderlust:

    “Well, you said you had enough. You said that you were leaving. I said…‘Baby, I ain’t grieving.’ Pack your bag and pull out this evening. There’s a wide open road.” (03:02)

  • Musical interlude captures the raw, emerging Cash sound, with simple but punchy instrumentation.

Community & Home Life – Midcentury Ads

• [05:23] Cash pivots into a warm, conversational ad read for the Home Equipment Company, extolling the virtues of “Cool Glo” awnings:

  “You can make your home several degrees cooler this summer and for the summers to come with Home Equipment Company’s Cool Glo awnings...Made by factory-trained men who really know the business, and that means a lot to you." (05:23)

  • The ad copy, delivered by Cash, is both informative and charming, creating an intimate sponsor connection.

“One More Ride” – Second Song

• [06:49–08:45]
  • A plaintive, train-driven ballad expressing longing and the lure of roads unknown.
  • Standout lyric:

    “If I don’t come back on a one way track way down from Mexico, you can find me there or any old where that a tumbleweed will grow. It’s goodbye now, you never know how I’m grieving.” (08:40)

More Home Advice & Another Appeal

• [09:00] Cash continues the home improvement theme with another sponsor message, displaying trust in local Memphis businesses.

Audience Engagement & Boogie Interlude

• [10:18] Johnny Cash:

  “About the only way I guess that we can find out the kind of music you like is for you to write us and tell us. So write us…” (10:18)

• Inviting Luther Perkins to the mic, Cash cues a quick instrumental boogie—an authentic, lively moment:

  “Next thing, I want to ask Luther Boy to step up here and show all his little children how to play a big boogie. Go, Luther.” (10:18)

• [11:35] Cash thanks Luther, gently jokes about cutting the performance short, and segues to a sacred song.

“Belshazzar” – Sacred Song

• [11:35–14:37]
  • Original composition based on a biblical story, marrying Cash’s gravitas with gospel tradition:

    “Well, the Bible tells about a man who ruled Babylon in all its land…But for Belshazzar, it was getting late.” (12:31) “For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting. His kingdom was divided, couldn’t stand. He was weighed in the balance and found wanting. His houses were built upon the sand.” (12:45)

  • Vivid storytelling, deep vocals, and reverence infuse the performance with emotion.

Show Farewell & Community Spirit

• [14:37] Johnny Cash:

  “It’s been very nice coming your way…We hope very much that you enjoyed our program and hope you’ll be tuned in again next Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock…If you have any requests, just write us in. If we know it, we’ll sing it. If we don’t, we’ll try to learn it.” (14:37)

  • Cash again promotes both music requests and local home services, closing with gratitude and warmth.

Closing Announcements & Live Show Preview

• [15:35] KWEM station sign-off and summary:

  “Home Equipment Company has just presented 15 minutes of country music by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two…” (15:35)

• [16:03–end] Texas Bill Stuck previews an upcoming live country jamboree at Overton Park Shell featuring local and national stars like Webb Pierce, Red Savine, a young Elvis Presley, Wanda Jackson, and Johnny Cash, inviting listeners to join Memphis’ thriving country scene.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Johnny Cash on listener participation and connection:

  “If you do, we hope you’ll write us a card or letter…and maybe we can do your favorite song for you sometime with nothing we’d like better if we know it. If we don’t know it, we’ll try to learn it for you.” (01:29)

• Opening lines of “Wide Open Road”:

  “Well, you said you had enough. You said that you were leaving. I said shovel pony baby, I ain’t grieving…” (03:02)

• Sacred storytelling in “Belshazzar”:

  “For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting…” (12:45)

• Cash’s signature sign-off:

  “It’s been very nice coming your way today…We hope very much that you enjoyed our program…” (14:37)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:41: Johnny Cash and announcer banter
• 01:29: Band introductions; appeal for listener requests
• 03:02: Performance of “Wide Open Road”
• 05:23: Home Equipment Company ad read (Cool Glo awnings)
• 06:49: “One More Ride” performance
• 09:00: Second sponsor message on home improvements
• 10:18: Request for music suggestions; Luther Perkins’ boogie
• 11:35: “Belshazzar” (sacred song)
• 14:37: Show closing and outro
• 15:35: Station sign-off and live show preview

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Summary & Tone

This broadcast captures Johnny Cash on the cusp of his stardom, blending music, humor, local color, and deep audience connection. With his humble requests for listener correspondence and his affable sponsor pitches, Cash emerges as a genuine, approachable artist rooted in his community. For fans of country music, radio history, or Johnny Cash himself, this episode is a warm, immersive slice of Americana, still inviting listeners to “write in and let us know what you want to hear.”

Transcript

[Radio Announcer]

Present Memphis and kwem. Temperature is 75 degrees. Stay tuned next for Johnny Cash here on Mid South Country Products. Aventeater time is 4:00'. Clock. And folks, I'm sure all of you have seen westerns before, but if I were a betting man, I bet you've never seen anything like Apache. Starring Burt Lancaster and Gene Peters. Apache is showing on the widescreen at the Avon Theatre in West Memphis tomorrow, Sunday and Monday in beautiful color by Technicolor. The other picture in this big double feature program is the spine jingling a man in hiding. I'll make goose pimples on goose pimples, that's what it'll do. See them both at the Avalon Theater in West Memphis today, Tomorrow or Monday for sure. Home Equipment Company. The place where you can always get a good deal on quality home equipment improvements, rather presents Johnny Cash and Tennessee 2. Thank you.

[Johnny Cash]

Thank you. Hello, folks, this is Johnny Cash, and I'd like to introduce you to the other two boys. This is Luther Perkins over here hitting all those hard notes on that guitar. Oh, go Luther. And Marshall Grant hitting the low notes on this bass fiddle over here. Sound like the man in the trunk. Folks, this is our first time to be coming out your way by way of radio. And we sincerely hope you'll enjoy our program. If you do, we hope you'll write us a card or letter telling us so. And maybe we can do your favorite song for you sometime with nothing we'd like better if we can, if we know it. If we don't know it, we'll try to learn it for you. This program is brought to you by Home Equipment Company, 2529 Summer Avenue, right here in Memphis. We'll tell you more about Home Equipment Company in a minute, but to get things rolling here, we want to do one of our own songs, one called Wide Open Road.

[Luther Perkins]

Well, you said you had enough you said that you were leaving I said shovel pony baby I ain't grieving. Pack your bags and pull out this evening There's a wide open road early this morning you were nowhere about and so I searched the town but you had done pulled out I looked northeast and west and then a leading south I saw a wide open road There's a wide open road it's leading south off a mile if you stick around and turn your damper down or there's a wide open road. Well, the reason I was looking for you all over town was to tell you that your kitty cat was still around and you left your wedding ring when you went down that Wide open road if you're gonna stay away honey, let me know how to cook hot biscuits, how to roll a dough. Everything's gone crazy since I told you to go down a wide open road. There's a wide open road and honey, I want you to know you can look down south or you can turn back home and there's a wide open.

[Johnny Cash]

You know, folks, even without air conditioning, you can make your home several degrees cooler this summer and for the summers to come with Home Equipment Company's Cool Glow awnings. You know, Cool Glo is really something different. And Home Equipment Company has its own shop to manufacture and install these awnings. These new awnings are 100% pure aluminum and fiberglass. And to you that means they'll never rust because even the braces are aluminum. Never know rusty streaks running down the side of your house because of aluminum. Because of the awnings rather. And you can get them in any color you want, baked in colors to make them look fresh and new. Always with Home Equipment Company's awnings, you can be sure of a real quality product. They're made by factory trained men who really know the business and that means a lot to you. So beautify your home, increase its value and make it cooler with Cool Glo awnings from Home Equipment Company. By the way, you don't have to pay any money down and you can get terms to suit you. You won't even have to make your first payment till July. So call me here now at 483311 for a free estimate on onings for your home. Someone will take your call here at 483311.

[Luther Perkins]

I long for don't need no drip I'm taking one more ride Way out there I guess it's in my hide for the clickety clack of the railroad track is calling if a man could know where the Santa Fe goes When she gets under steam and the big loud bell it's on Farewell to hear her whistle scream he's bound to go.

[Johnny Cash]

Where there ain't no snow calling One more ride.

[Luther Perkins]

One more ride. I miss the gloom of the prairie moon that seemed to know my name and the tumbleweed with the fairy dog feet I miss them just the same they're all a part of my song Apart I'm saying I recall a tune that I sang to the moon and it seemed to be in style and I rolled away at the close of day and I stayed so long a while But I long to be where.

[Johnny Cash]

The memory is raised Sing One more.

[Luther Perkins]

Ride, One more ride. As the years go by I wonder why I long to leave my home and hit the trail of the iron rail. Away out there alone but my heart till I know that I am leaving. If I don't come back on a one way track way down from Mexico. You can find me there. Or any old where that a tumbleweed will grow.

[Johnny Cash]

It's a goodbye now you never know how I'm grieving.

[Luther Perkins]

One more rhyme, one more ride.

[Johnny Cash]

Here's a to think about if you're planning on doing any kind of repairs on your home. Home Equipment Company has 17 different departments to give you any type of home service you need. For instance, on flint coat roofing and siding. It's the very best installed by men that really know how. In our Youngstown kitchen department. It's always a plan that counts. And Home Equipment company gives you complete free planting service. And does a job they're proud of all the way to the finishing touches on aluminum's screens are completely rust proof and bug proof. You never have to paint them because they are all aluminum wire fences. They are heavy nine gauge wire with steel posts that in 18 inches of concrete. Fiberglass insulation for your home makes it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. These and many others. So anything for your home to make it a better place to live is Home Equipment Company's business. And for any type of home improvements you don't have to pay any money down. And you can get terms to suit you to three years to pay. Call us here at 483311 for a free estimate on any remodeling service. That's 483311. Here in Memphis, folks, we're very happy to be coming out your way today. We want to try to play the kind of music you like. About the only way I guess that we can find out the kind of music you like is for you to write us and tell us. So write us a card and letter and we'll try our best to get the song on that we don't know it. We'll learn it right. To Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two here at KWEM in Memphis. Next thing I want to ask Luther Boy to step up here and show all his little children how to play a big boogie. Thank you, Luther. I'd say that's mighty fine. Kind of cut you off short there. We really did mean to, folks. It's getting round about that part of the program now. We always like to include a good sacred song in our show. This time we want to do one of our own. Well, whether it's good or not, that's really up to you. It's one that we wrote a good while back. We've sung it around. The people seem to like it a little. I hope you'll let us know if you like it or any other song that we do, or any song that you'd like for us to do. Just right and tell. Here's our religious song for today. It's one we wrote called Belshazzar. Well, the Bible tells about a man who ruled Babylon in all its land. Round the city he built a wall and declared that Babylon would never fall. He had concubines and wives. He called his Babylon paradise. On his throne he drank and ate, but for Belshazzar it was getting late.

[Luther Perkins]

For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting. His kingdom was divided, couldn't stand. He was weighed in the balance and found wanting.

[Johnny Cash]

His houses were built upon the sand. Well, the people feasted, drank the wine and praised the false gods of his time. All holy things scorned and mocked. Suddenly all their mocking stopped. From the wall there appeared a hand, nothing else. There was no man in blood to hand began to write. And Belshazzar couldn't hide his price.

[Luther Perkins]

For he was weighed in the balance and found wanting. His kingdom was divided, couldn't stand. He was weighed in the balance and found wanting.

[Johnny Cash]

His houses were built upon the. Well, no one around could understand what was written by the mystic. And Belshazzar tried but couldn't find a man who could give him peace of mind. Daniel the prophet, a man of God. He saw the writing on the wall in blood. Belshazzar asked him what it said and Daniel turned to the wall and read.

[Luther Perkins]

My friend, you weighed in the balance and found wanting. Your kingdom is it can't stand. You're weighed in the balance and found wanting.

[Johnny Cash]

Your houses are built upon the sand. Well, folks, it's just about time for us to leave, but before we go, I'd like to say that it's been very nice coming your way today over kwem. We hope very much that you enjoyed our program and hope you'll be tuned in again next Saturday afternoon at 4 o'. Clock. And once again we'll be back with you and try to sing you the song that you want to hear. If you have any requests, just write us in. If we know it, we'll sing it. If we don't, we'll try to learn it. Also, if there's anything that you'd plan to do to your home. Any improvements, Youngstown kitchens, iron insulation, roofing, siding, tile, heating equipment, screens or anything at all, just call Home Equipment Company. Call us here at 4833 and someone will come out and give you an estimate on it. Free of course, at your convenience.

[Radio Announcer]

Home equipment company has just presented 15 minutes of country music by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee 2. Tune in again next Saturday afternoon at 4 o' clock when Home Equipment brings you Johnny Cash. Serving both Memphis and the greater Mid south, this is KWAM 990 on the radio dial in Memphis.

[Texasville Strength]

Time is about 1 minute till 12 o'.

[Radio Announcer]

Clock.

[Texasville Strength]

Now all the music's on record. Melody Ranch with your good buddy Texasville Strength coming your way over. KWEM with studios in Memphis and West Memphis. And friends, don't forget about that big show tomorrow night at Overton Park Shell. The big country jamboree. It's going to be one of the biggest ever to come to Memphis and know you want to miss seeing and hearing in person. Webb Pierce and all the wondering boys. Red Savine, Elvis Presley will be there. Jim Wilson and his little four year old daughter, the boy that's got such a big hit record on. Daddy, you know what, and Sonny James will be there too. Bud Deckleman, Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, the little gal from Oklahoma. And of course yours truly and just many many others. Don't you miss it. Now, tomorrow night at 8 o' clock one one show only at Overton Park Shell. And I think I'm safe in saying rain or shine, the show will go on tomorrow night.