About the song
If you are a fan of country music, you have probably heard of Johnny Cash and his iconic song “Ring of Fire”. But do you know the story behind this song and what it means? In this blog post, we will provide detailed information about this song, without presenting or adding lyrics to the article.
“Ring of Fire” is a song that was made popular by Johnny Cash when it appeared on his 1963 album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. The song was written by Cash’s eventual second wife, June Carter Cash, and Merle Kilgore, a songwriter and friend of Cash. It was originally recorded by June’s sister, Anita Carter, on her 1963 album Folk Songs Old and New as “(Love’s) Ring of Fire”. However, Anita’s version did not become a hit, and Cash decided to record it his own way, adding the mariachi-style horns that he heard in a dream.
The song became one of the biggest hits of Cash’s career, staying at No. 1 on the country chart for seven weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA on January 21, 2010, and has sold over 1.2 million digital downloads. It was named the fourth greatest country song of all time by Country Music Television, while Rolling Stone listed it as the 87th greatest song of all time and the number one greatest country song of all time. In 1999, the 1963 recording of the song by Johnny Cash on the Columbia Records label was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The “ring of fire” in the song refers to the intense emotional and physical sensations that come with love and desire. These sensations can be overwhelming, and they can feel like a burning, consuming force that’s impossible to resist. But as anyone who’s been in love knows, the intensity of those feelings can also be painful. The song is based on June Carter’s personal experience of falling in love with Cash, who was married at the time. She wrote the song as a way to express her feelings for him, and to cope with the guilt and turmoil that she felt. She later said, “There is no way to be in that kind of hell, no way to extinguish a flame that burns, burns, burns”.
The song is also a testament to the transformative power of love, and how it can change a person’s life for better or worse. Cash was struggling with drug addiction and personal problems when he met June Carter, and she helped him overcome his demons and find his faith. They eventually married in 1968, and remained together until their deaths in 2003. Their son John Carter Cash said, “The song is about the transformative power of love and that’s what it has always meant to me and that’s what it will always mean to the Cash children.”
“Ring of Fire” is more than just a catchy tune with catchy horns. It is a song that tells a story of passion, pain, and redemption. It is a song that reflects the life and legacy of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, two of the most influential artists in country music history.
Oldies Music