God's Gonna Cut You Down Lyrics
Johnny Cash
Lyrics
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 '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 down 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
Song & Lyrics Facts
Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" is a song released on his 2006 posthumous album, American V: A Hundred Highways. The album was the fifth in Cash's American series and released after his death in 2003.
Written by traditional folk artist Odetta, the song features Cash's signature baritone vocal with sparse accompaniment from producer Rick Rubin. It is an adaptation of an old spiritual often attributed to African-American blues musician Blind Willie Johnson. The lyrics are about divine judgment and justice and warn that no matter who you are or what you do, God will eventually punish you for your sins. In addition to being covered by Cash, it has been recorded by Elvis Presley, Marilyn Manson, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, among others. Its genre can be categorized as country, folk, gospel and rockabilly.