When the Brooklyn Country All-Stars launch into “I’ve Been Everywhere”, hold onto your hats; this isn’t just a cover, it’s a high-speed train ride through Americana with a full brass section and enough energy to power the Brooklyn Bridge. Phil Robinson doesn’t sing this Johnny Cash tongue-twister; he conquers it.
Watch Robinson’s jaw-dropping breath control as he machine-guns through 89 locations in under 3 minutes; nailing every syllable from “Reno” to “Waterville” without missing a beat. The trumpeters (Shanelle Jenkins and Mac Gollehon) turn this country standard into a New Orleans-style brass parade at 1:42, while the rhythm section keeps that iconic train-chug tempo locked tight. The crowd’s eruption when Robinson ad-libs “right here with all you fine folk in New York City”? Priceless.
I’ve Been Everywhere – Brooklyn Country All-Stars Johnny Cash Tribute
Comments like “How does he breathe?!” and “Brooklyn does Cash better than Nashville” tell the story. That one fan whooping after “Tampa, Panama, Nevada”? Clearly a geography teacher appreciating the precision.
While the Brooklyn crew’s brass-infused take is electrifying, nothing compares to hearing the Man in Black’s original prison anthem in its raw, unvarnished glory. To fully appreciate their modern interpretation, we need to revisit the stark 1955 recording that started it all; where Cash’s voice alone could make prison walls shake.
Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues (Official Audio)
This is where outlaw country was born; Cash’s voice dripping with danger over that locomotive guitar rhythm. Listen at 0:42 when he delivers “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” with chilling matter-of-factness. The sparse arrangement; just that relentless boom-chicka-boom guitar and Cash’s cavernous baritone; proves true musical power needs no embellishment. Those handclaps? Borrowed from the actual 1968 Folsom Prison live recording, forever cementing the song’s legacy.
Follow @JohnnyCashOfficial to discover how each generation reinvents his classics; from Brooklyn brass bands to punk covers. Their #CashForever series showcases how his rebel spirit lives on in unexpected places.