On this day (May 1) in 1956, Johnny Cash released “I Walk the Line” as the third and final single from his album With His Hot and Blue Guitar. The song brought Cash his first No. 1 on the Billboard country chart. More than that, it became one of the Man in Black’s best-known songs. More than 60 years later, it remains a fan favorite.
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It didn’t take Cash long to find his first hit. He released his debut single, “Cry! Cry! Cry!” in 1956, and it peaked at No. 14 on the chart. His next single, “So Doggone Lonesome,” peaked at No. 4. Then, he released “I Walk the Line,” and it went to No. 1. It also peaked at No. 17 on the Hot 100, giving Cash his first crossover hit. Since its release, the song has sold more than 2 million copies, earned 2x Platinum certification.
Interesting Facts About Johnny Cash’s First No. 1
“I Walk the Line” offers a great example of the “boom-chicka” guitar style that Johnny Cash used throughout his career. He achieved his signature sound by threading a folded dollar bill through the high strings on her guitar, muting them. This technique gives the guitar a bass-heavy sound with the higher strings becoming a percussive element.
Cash humming between verses wasn’t a stylistic choice. The song features multiple key changes, and Cash hummed to find the correct vocal pitch.
The young musician wrote “I Walk the Line” as a pledge to his first wife, Vivian Liberto. They married in 1954 when Cash was only 22 years old. A year later, he signed with Sun Records, and, after seeing some minor chart success with his first singles, joined Elvis Presley on tour. Both Cash and Liberto knew he would face temptation on the road. This song was his way of assuring her that he would be faithful.
Cash found the inspiration for the song’s melody and chord progression when listening to a tape of his former band, the Landsberg Barbarians, played backward.
Featured Image by THA/Shutterstock
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