Johnny Cash recorded a version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” on American V: A Hundred Highways in 2003, with an arrangement quite different from most known gospel versions of the song.
A music video, directed by Tony Kaye,[1] was made for this version in late 2006. It featured a number of celebrities, including:
- David Allan Coe (Intro)
- Travis Barker
- Sir Peter Blake
- Bono
- Sheryl Crow
- The Dixie Chicks
- Johnny Depp
- Flea
- Billy Gibbons
- Whoopi Goldberg (brief flash)
- Woody Harrelson
- Dennis Hopper
- Terrence Howard
- Jay-Z
- Mick Jones
- Anthony Kiedis
- Kris Kristofferson
- Amy Lee
- Tommy Lee
- Adam Levine
- Shelby Lynne
- Chris Martin
- Kate Moss
- Graham Nash (holding photos of Johnny Cash)
- Iggy Pop
- Lisa Marie Presley
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Keith Richards
- Chris Rock
- Kid Rock
- Rick Rubin
- Patti Smith
- Sharon Stone
- Justin Timberlake
- Q-Tip
- Kanye West
- Brian Wilson
- Owen Wilson
In order of appearance; Iggy Pop, Kanye West, Chris Martin, Kris Kristofferson, Patti Smith, Terrence Howard, Flea, Q-Tip, Adam Levine, Chris Rock, Justin Timberlake, Kate Moss, Sir Peter Blake, Sheryl Crow, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Amy Lee, Tommy Lee, the Dixie Chicks, Mick Jones, Sharon Stone, Bono, Shelby Lynne, Anthony Kiedis, Travis Barker, Lisa Marie Presley, Kid Rock, Jay-Z, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, Corinne Bailey Rae, Johnny Depp, Graham Nash (holding photos of Johnny Cash), Brian Wilson.
It also briefly features archive footage of Cash himself. The video was shot entirely in black and white. Since its release, both the song and video have seen moderate airplay.
The video won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.
The video was also covered by Rebel Son, Adding a little bit more upbeat sound to the song, Released on the “All my Demons” album.
The Johnny Cash version can also be heard in the following:
- In the opening of the second mission of the video game Battlefield 3
- In a 2011 commercial for Jeep Grand Cherokee
- In the 2007 documentary:The Most Hated Family in America.
- As bumper music for the Alex Jones radio show.
- In promotional commercials for the hit CW series Supernatural.
- In the trailer for the 2006 documentary Deliver Us from Evil.
- As entrance music for UFC Fighters Spencer Fisher and Jason Lambert, as well as professional wrestlers Tyson Dux, Brodie Lee, and “The Southern States Outlaw” Michael Cross.
- As the entrance song for left handed relief pitcher Joe Beimel of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- As the entrance song for Lance Berkman, right fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals.
- As the entrance song for Arizona State pitcher Josh McAlister.
- EastEnders used the recording in a 2008 promotional video for Max Branning‘s Judgement Day.
- During the opening sequence and closing credits of David Ridgen‘s documentary Mississippi Cold Case made for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- In the release trailer of the game Splinter Cell: Conviction.[2]
- In 2010, the recording was used in the opening titles sequence of the ITV (UK) series Father and Son.
- As of June 16, 2010, a sample of the rhythm from this version is used as background music for a series of television commercials for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee; most notably the “Manifesto” advertisement.[3]
- In a video entitled “The Death of Liverpool FC” intended to highlight the protest against the owners of the club at the time.[4]
- Rapper RL sampled this version in his track, entitled “God’s Gonna Cut Us Down”, on his album “T.H.R.E.E.”
- In a trailer for the Coen brothers‘s film True Grit.
- In December 2010 in a trailer for ESPN‘s 30 for 30 film Pony Excess.
- In March 2011 in the Being Human episode “Though the Heavens Fall,” as performed by Detroit Social Club.
- Sampled by J-Clash on the track “Cut You Down” [5]
- In a dramatic scene of Republic of Doyle, season 2, episode 9.
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People in the Johnny Cash video “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”
Wikipedia noted: Johnny Cash recorded a version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” on American V: A Hundred Highways in 2003, with an arrangement quite different from most known gospel versions of the song. A music video, directed by Tony Kaye,[1] was made for this version in late 2006. It featured a number of celebrities, […]
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