We can almost bet you remember the first time you heard Johnny Cash’s recording of Ring of Fire.
His unmistakable deep baritone voice and the ringing of mariachi horns give it away from the beginning. And, even though he wrote or co-wrote most of his catalog, this song is steeped in mystery.
Put your detective hats on as we explore the true story behind Ring of Fire.
Let’s burn!
Who Originally Wrote Ring of Fire?
Ring of Fire, made famous by Johnny Cash’s recording from 1963, wasn’t written by the Man in Black. Though it’s one of his most recognizable hits, his future wife wrote the song.
June Carter and her writing partner Merle Kilgore put the tune together based on her concept. And while Johnny was the inspiration, it wasn’t meant for him to record.
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter was born in 1929 in Maces Spring, Virginia, to country music royalty. Her mother, Maybelle Carter, was one of the founding members of the Carter Family. This group popularized the genre in the early 20th century. With their tight harmonies and Carter Scratch-style guitar playing, they built on the power of the radio to spread their music.
At age ten, June started performing with the group that became The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle in 1943. Multi-instrumentalist and comedian, she was the face of the ensemble. Joined by The Virginia Boys, Doc and Carl Carter, they took the South by storm.
The band played on several radio programs and then moved to Springfield, Missouri, with their lead guitarist, Chet Atkins. However, his impressive talent held them back for a time. The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, wouldn’t allow him onstage. Other guitarists thought he was so good they’d lose all their gigs.
But in 1950, they made the journey, and in a few years, June met Johnny.
More than just Mrs. Cash, she was an actress and songwriter held in high regard. Once they married, the two performed and recorded together for the rest of their lives.
Is it time to add more Carter-Cash to your collection? Try Carryin’ On With Johnny Cash & June Carter.
Wyatt Merle Kilgore
American singer and songwriter Wyatt “Merle” Kilgore grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the 1940s. Best known as one of the songwriters of Ring of Fire, he also worked as an artist manager.
His career began as the guitar boy for Hank Williams at the Louisiana Hayride in 1948. He continued working with the Williams family until he died in 2005.
As a writer, his best-known tunes include Wolverton Mountain, recorded by Claude King, and Johnny Reb, for Johnny Horton. He also toured extensively with Cash’s band and the Bama Band, Hank Williams Jr.’s outfit.
While he recorded plenty of music, he never saw the kind of success Johnny Cash found with his song.
What Was the Story Behind Ring of Fire?
The Man in Black was the real inspiration behind Ring of Fire. June met Johnny in the early 1960s and was smitten. However, she recognized that he was wild and a troublemaker. Even though she knew he wasn’t right for her, she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
June took a phrase from a book of poetry from the 1600s as her starting point. Her uncle A.P., a fellow singer and songwriter, underlined “Love is a burning ring of fire” from one of the poems. Working with Kilgore, she wrote, “There is no way to be in that kind of hell, no way to extinguish a flame that burns, burns, burns.”
Together, they penned the first version of the song that became arguably the greatest hit of her future husband’s career.
Who First Recorded Ring of Fire?
The first recording of Ring of Fire featured the co-writer’s sister. Anita Carter released her version, titled (Love’s) Ring of Fire, in 1963, just a few months before the Man in Black’s.
Her song, a more traditional old-timey country tune, didn’t have as much traction as she hoped. Released by Mercury Records on her album Folk Songs Old and New, sadly, it never took off.
Cash told his future sister-in-law that he’d give her version five or six months to see if it was a hit. Clearly, he thought it needed another take.
Do you know: What Were the Last Words Johnny Cash Spoke?
What Popular Covers Are There of Ring of Fire?
Even though he’s the artist most associated with Ring of Fire, we consider Cash’s version of the song a cover. It’s a safe bet that the other artists on our list never heard the original and used his as their starting point.
Johnny Cash
As we mentioned, Cash was the original inspiration for the song. He wanted to record the tune immediately, but Anita Carter’s version came first. When it wasn’t a big hit, he decided to take a crack at it. Widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time, it topped out at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Incorporating his band, The Tennessee Three, and some Herb Alpert-style brass, it was a departure for him. All the Carter women got in on the recording, though. The style may be all Johnny, but the harmonies are pure country.
Eric Burdon and the Animals
One of the more distinct voices of the British Invasion, Eric Burdon’s take on the tune is unique. Starting with a snare drum march, his powerful voice gives Mick Jagger a run for his money.
Recorded five years after the original, it drips with 1960s blues rock excess. Nearly whispering at the beginning, Burdon’s shouting vocals ebb and flow throughout the track.
By the time it came out, Eric Burdon and the Animals were no more. After a run-in with the yakuza (gangsters) while on a tour in Japan, they all fled the country and wisely pursued new creative opportunities.
We found 7 Cover Songs That Are Better Than the Original.
California punk rock pioneers Social Distortion recorded their version of Ring of Fire in 1989. Released on their first major label album, it’s a straight-ahead punk tune. Distorted amps and fake accents are on full display. And, instead of horns, the opening riff is played on electric guitar.
Topping out at number 25 on the Alternative Airplay charts, it was one of the band’s most popular hits.
What Happened to June Carter and Johnny Cash?
It would be several years after Ring of Fire before these two lovebirds finally tied the knot. During a live performance in London, Ontario, Cash proposed. They married on March 1, 1968, and remained together until she died in 2003. Within four months of her passing, Johnny Cash also died.
Their legacy of love, of each other, and music live on in their extensive body of recordings. In 2005, a film starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix called Walk the Line came out. It reintroduced a new generation to their story and music.
The Taste of Love is Sweet
According to Cash’s daughter, Rosanne, Ring of Fire is about the transformative power of love. Looking at the two musicians who made it famous, it’s no surprise they stayed married for 35 years. And, even though the Johnny’s wasn’t the original version, when those mariachi horns kick in, you know what you’re in for.