The song even reached #17 on the Hot 100, becoming the first of many crossover hits for Cash.

It became Cash’s first #1 hit on the Billboard Country charts, and remained in the charts for over 43 weeks. The song was exactly the right one at the right time. After three moderately successful attempts, there was an element of ‘make or break’ for the young artist from Kingsland, Arkansas.

You give me cause for love that I can't hide.I Walk the Line was written and recorded by Johnny Cash in 1956. You've got a way to keep me on your side, I keep you on my mind both day and night.Īnd happiness I've known proves that it's right, I find myself alone when each day is through.Īs sure as night is dark and day is light I keep the ends out for the tie that binds, I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, 87-88.Īs reprinted in Dorothy Horstman, Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy, New Johnny Cash, Man in Black, Grand Rapids, MI, 1975, pp. The lyrics came as fast as I could write, and in twenty minutes I had it finished. It was one of those rare times I felt a song was just 'begging to be written.' There was no wringing the mind or biting the pencil on I Walk the Line. ' I Walk the Line would be a good title,' Carl said. 'Something like 'I'm Still Being True' or 'I'm Walking the Line' or some such thing.'

A song that will have a lot of meaning not only for me, but for everybody who hears it - that says I'm going to be true not only to those who believe in me and depend on me, but to myself and to God - a song that might give courage to others as well as myself.'Ĭarl said, 'That's a good idea. 'This is an idea I got today,' I want to write a song that has something to say. In the dressing room at Gladewater I was sitting with Carl Perkins, strumming on the guitar. Telephone interview, reprinted in Dorothy Horstman, Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy, New I was newly married at the time, and I suppose I was laying out my pledge of devotion. I wrote the song backstage one night in 1956 in Gladewater, Texas.

LISTEN TO COMPLETE VERSION (REAL AUDIO, 273 KB)Īny copyrighted material on these pages is used in 'fair use' for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).Ĭovered by Dylan during Dylan-Cash Nashville sessions (duet with Johnny Cash), performed live with Paul Simon during their joint tour, Jun 1999.

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Johnny cash walking the line