When you open up the liner notes to Brad Paisley's upcoming album Love and War (out April 21) you'll find one surprising songwriter credit. Paisley's song "Gold All Over the Ground" is adapted from an old Johnny Cash poem. Written in 1967, the poem was included in the 2016 collection of Cash's poetry, "Forever Words."
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"Gold All Over the Ground" is an ode to Cash's love and constant companion, June Carter Cash. And Cash's words are as soul-crushingly beautiful today as they ever were. Fifty years later, you can still feel the bond between the Man in Black and his beloved wife.
Paisley keeps Cash's poignant words front and center, adding just a guitar, mandolin and lovely melody.
"We'd sit beneath strong branches, my arms would twine around," Paisley sings. "I'd turn your green to emerald and give you gold all over the ground."
The song even features audio of Johnny introducing June as "the one I need, the inspiration for it, Miss June Carter." The song ends with Cash calling June "Not only the lady who I shared a life with, but she may have been the person responsible for me still being alive, she and God." You should probably get your tissues ready for this one.
Listen to the track below.
Although Love and War is Paisley's first album in three years, he hasn't kept fans waiting too long for new music. He released his ode to small town life "Heaven South" back in March. King of the quirky, comedic country video, Paisley recently released the nostalgic video for "Last Time For Everything." Just a week earlier, he dropped the video for the hilariously titled "Selfie#Theinternetisforever." Exclusively on Facebook, of course.
"Today," the debut single from Love and War, rose into the Top 10 on the country charts.
Paisley is currently on tour across the U.S. until this fall.
