That's what he told the media at the recent L.A. premiere for his upcoming film, “Two Lovers.” As if to emphasize the decision, he had written the words “Good Bye” on his knuckles for one and all to see.

The two-time Oscar-nominated actor (most recently for “Walk the Line”) says he's going to devote himself to a musical career. Seems portraying Johnny Cash, which involved singing and playing the guitar, gave Phoenix the bug.

He was good as Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.” Not as good as Reese Witherspoon was as June Carter Cash, which was how Oscar voters saw it. (Witherspoon won the best actress award; Phoenix lost to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won best actor for “Capote.”)

Still, I wish Joaquin Phoenix much luck, if indeed this is the career path he has chosen. There are plenty of Hollywoodites who've either dabbled at music or made it a side project – Bruce Willis, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Keanu Reeves, Kevin Bacon, Terrence Howard, even Scarlett Johansson. And some notable actors came to their craft from the musical world – Mark Wahlberg, Will Smith, Kris Kristofferson, Queen Latifah, Mos Def, Barbra Streisand, some blue-eyed guy named Sinatra, to cite a few.

But to ostensibly give up an acting career, one in which he still commands lead or at least co-starring roles, for the concert stage (or recording studio)? Phoenix didn't say how high his aspirations were, but I hope they're modest. He's not going to be the second coming of Johnny Cash.

Not that he has to be. If Phoenix is serious and he intends to go out on the road as a musician, probably with a backup band of well-paid, talented sidemen in tow, he'll benefit at least at the beginning from a curiosity factor. For one thing, fans will be able to see him live and up close in a way they never could when he was on the screen. Can't you envision a long line at the Belly Up, for example?

The rub is, he'll be singing, not acting.

His older brother, the late River Phoenix, enjoyed some success as a musician prior to his too-brief film career. (He played in a band called Aleka's Attic.)

My guess is Phoenix one day will turn up with “I'm back” painted on his knuckles.

 David L. Coddon: (619) 293-1348; david.coddon@uniontrib.com