Dialogue

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Lesson Transcript

Top 10 American Songs—"Ring of Fire"–Johnny Cash
"Ring of Fire" is a song written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and made popular by Johnny Cash, who recorded it in 1963. Carter was in a relationship with Cash during that time but was agonized by his drug and alcohol addictions. She stated that despite his wild ways, there was no way she could leave him. Four years after the song was released, Cash and Carter married and Cash shook both his addictions afterwards. Their daughter has claimed that this song played a major role in convincing Johnny Cash to give up drugs and alcohol.
The song was originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter. Only when it failed to become a hit single did Cash record it, though he had been intending to do so for a while. The composition was different than the arrangement Cash used on his recording. He added the Mariachi-style horns, claiming that he had a dream in which he was singing the song accompanied by Mexican horns.
Cash's recording of "Ring of Fire" was featured on his compilation album of the same name. The song became the biggest hit of his career, topping the Billboard Country Charts for seven weeks. It was a Top 20 Hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well.
"Ring of Fire" is one of the most-covered songs in history. There have been many recordings and live performances by other artists which have been popular as well. The most successful of these is the punk rock interpretation of the song by Social Distortion.

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