Ring Of Fire
by Johnny Cash

Album: Ring Of Fire - The Best Of Johnny Cash (1963)
Charted: 17
Play Video
  • Love is a burnin' thing
    And it makes a fiery ring
    Bound by wild desire
    I fell into a ring of fire

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher
    And it burns, burns, burns
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher
    And it burns, burns, burns
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire

    The taste of love is sweet
    When hearts like ours meet
    I fell for you like a child
    Oh, but the fire went wild

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher
    And it burns, burns, burns
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher
    And it burns, burns, burns
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire
    And it burns, burns, burns
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire
    The ring of fire, the ring of fire Writer/s: June Carter, Merle Kilgore
    Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 56

  • Jennifur SunCountry kid from Reno LOL and LOVE LOVE those trumpets. Am curious I think I have heard the same players on a few other songs. Am I right?
  • Kev from Rogers, ArI remember hearing this song at a neighbor's house, in 1965 or so. I think the neighbors were playing a full album, but that's the only song that really stuck out to me as a little kid because of the singer "going down, down, down", as the flames "went up higher".
  • Volkat from Knoxville, TnI read Vivian's book (which Johnny himself endorsed and planned to write an introduction to), and all four of Vivian and Johnny's daughters have said that June gave their father drugs and told their mother that she was going to "take him away" from her. Vivian was a beautiful, religious woman who had four kids while Johnny was working. Even John Carter Cash said Vivian's portrayal in Walk The Line was incorrect. In fact, Walk The Line was Johnny's love song to Vivian. One of Vivian and Johnny's grandchildren did a documentary about Vivian and I am more inclined to believe Vivian. I don't know why people are getting so high and mighty about Vivian supposedly being bitter. Did you say the same thing about Princess Diana? No, because Charles and Camilla weren't the ones making music and claiming they'd been saved. Vivian was treated worse than Princess Diana. She was left alone with four girls in the middle of nowhere when her husband would disappear for a year. At one point, one of the girls got so sick she nearly died and he couldn't be found. But he was a good singer and found salvation so I guess we should just say she's mean for being bitter even though she still loved him and forgave him.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThanks to Vivian's observation, I'll now be picturing something else every time I hear this song. But I agree that she's being unfairly bashed here. It's common knowledge that Cash was cheating on her with multiple women, including June, so she was entitled to be somewhat "sour" over how things turned out.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 19th 2004, the family of Johnny Cash blocked an attempt by advertisers to use his hit song "Ring of Fire" to promote a hemorrhoid-relief product, even though the idea had been approved by Merle Kilgore, who wrote the song with June Carter Cash...
    In a released statement; Rosanne Cash, Johnny's daughter, commented that the family 'would never allow the song to be demeaned like that'...
    Sadly, both Mr. Cash and Ms. Carter had passed away one year earlier in 2003; June on May 15th at age 73 and Johnny on September 12th at 71...
    May they both R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 11th 1964, Billboard Magazine unveiled their first 'Country LP Albums' chart...
    At: #1. Ring of Fire - The Best of Johnny Cash
    #2. Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins
    #3. Night Life by Ray Price
    #4. On the Bandstand by Buck Owens
    #5. The Best of George Jones
    #6. George Jones & Melba Montgomery Singing What's In Our Heart
    #7. I Love A Song by Stonewall Jackson
    #8. Return of the Gunfighter by Marty Robbins
    #9. Detroit City & 11 Other hits by Bobby Bare
    #10. Still by Bill Anderson...
    As of January 2016 four of the above are still with us; Stonewall Jackson {83}, Bobby Bare {80}, Bill Anderson {78}, and Melba Montgomery {77}...
    And R.I.P. to Mr. Cash {1932 - 2003}, Mr. Owens {1929 - 2006}, Mr. Collins {1930 - 2000}, Mr. Price {1926 - 2013}, Mr. Jones {1931 - 2013}, and Mr. Robbins {1925 - 1982}.
  • Hana from London, UkFirst of all... it's not true that Vivian was unloving & only interested in his money. she was stuck at home, raising FOUR kids while Johnny was out there killing himself with drugs & cheating on her with June. I think it's pretty expected and normal for her to feel bitter and sad after seeing how the man she loved abandoned her for another woman. it's ridiculous to say that Vivian was jealous of Johnny's "friendship" with June - OF COURSE she was jealous, they were having an affair!

    & it's pathetic how people say she was rude or unloving towards Johnny - as if that justifies Johnny cheating on her & humiliating her; not to mention how it was not true at all and it was confirmed by Johnny's band-mates and his children that Vivian loved him her entire life. but... unfortunately... Johnny didn't want her love simply because she wasn't his soul - mate = June was. so it's unfair to paint Vivian as a villain (like they did in a movie) just because Johnny fell out of love with her - and it wasn't even her fault! she simply wasn't the person Johnny wanted that love from.

    as far as the song goes - the song ks about June & Cash's affair and the hurt of them having to go home to their spouses because they were MADLY in love but couldn't be with each other.

    also, Cash wrote it - not June. this was also confirmed by various sources, not even his ex - wife but Curly, the man who was actually there when the song fot written. Cash had given up his writing credits because he didn't want Vivian to get royalties from that song during the divorce.
  • Jack from SacramentoI think we can interpret the song in any way that gives it meaning to us. I think of an old flame that I still burn for... would love to play this for her.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 23rd 1964, Johnny Cash performed "Ring of Fire" on the ABC-TV program 'The Jimmy Dean Show'...
    Seven months earlier on May 25th, 1963 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on July 21st, 1963 it peaked at #17 (for 2 weeks) and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on the day it peaked on the Top 100 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    In 2010 Alan Jackson, with Lee Ann Womack, released a covered version of the song, it peaked at #45 on the Country Singles chart...
    R.I.P. Mr. Cash (1932 - 2003).
  • Doc from Gatlinburg , TnMerle Kilgore was a great and colorful entertainer and songwriter. I was proud to call him a friend. He knew everybody in the music business. He and J.R. Were very close. These two guys made their mark in music history and will never be forgotten... Rest in peace.
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlI adore this song! I love the movie "Walk the Line" because Joaquin Phoenix sang this sooo good!
  • Eva from Las Vegas, NvOk truth is June Carter Cash wrote the song Ring of Fire. As for his ex wife's comments about it, total sour grapes. Vivienne was too busy being a stay at home mom and was never interested in johnny's career except for the money. She ended up being a controlling woman. She was bitter and unloving in the end and jealous of his friendship with june. He was a better man for divorcing her then later marrying june. R.I.P. Johnny and june. Heaven is lucky to have you two up there singing your music.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyBruce Springsteen, who always speaks highly of Johnny Cash, has sang this song twice in concerts. Once in 1974 in NJ and then in 2009 at the Sommett Center in Nashville...
  • Chris from La Jolla, CaWall of Voodoo did a cover of "Ring of Fire" on their self-titled 1980 debut album with Stan Ridgeway singing. Growing up with punk, rockabilly, and ska music, for years, Ridgeway's was the only version I knew. I knew the song was old, but it was only after I watched "Walk the Line" that I investigated the songs mysterious origins. Even though I heard "A Boy Named Sue" as a kid, it wasn't until Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt" that I 'got' what an amazing (and versatile) musician his really was. Since then, I've listened to a LOT of his music. Wow!
  • Richard from Fort Lauderdale, Flthis song is about a vereneal disease (std's) he got. listen to the lyrics and it makes sense that the "ring of fire" is the place where it hurts. (and it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire [referring to the facts that it burns]... love is a burnin thing and it makes a fiery ring [referring to the fact that it was sexually transmitted])
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnI think it's awesome that June Carter wrote this song, would letter become Johnny's wife.
  • Jonathan from Paoli, InThis song is the greatest to listen to, even if you hate country.
  • Farrah from Elon, NcI read the quote from Johnny Cash's ex-wife Vivian, and all I can say is that she sounds like she's very bitter after all these years.
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, Castrange mix of mariachi trumpets and Johnny's
    wonderful voice.I love it!
  • Nady from Adelaide, AustraliaMy dad told me this song was about hemmoroids hahahaha (I know i spelt it wrong)
  • Ric from Erskine, United KingdomI do believe, after reading Vivian's book, that Johnny actually wrote the song with Merle (while camping, fishing and getting high) and put it in June's name. (It IS more in line with the Cash songs of that period... as opposed to what June Carter was writing.) Why? As Johnny told Vivian, "Because June needed the money!" Kris Kristofferson said, "Johnny Cash is a walking, talking contradiction."
  • John from Mansfield, Tx"Ring Of Fire"was one of the first songs I remember learning to sing when I was a little shaver back there in the early 60's!!*(*I'm 49).
    Now about Vivian Distin's Posthomous comments about June Carter not writing the song*(*She claims it was about June Carter's'Bearded Clam')
    sounds like some very sour grapes!!

    My Wife and I went to the Galaxy Drive in Theater in Ennis in November 2005 and saw
    "Walk the Line"and we loved it!!

    Reese was good as June but Jaquin Phoenix was Damned Good as Johnny!!He shoulda got the Oscar in 2006!!Not"Brokeback Mountain"!!
    I loved his take on"Ring of Fire"!!
    Kinda has a driving"Pyschobilly"feel to it!!
    Also,check out Dwight Yoakum's version from 1987!!
  • Chuckles from L.a, Cathis song was originally written and sung by June and her sister but later Johnny had a dream of him singing the song with a mariachi band so thats where the odd sound comes from. Great, great song.
  • Rik from Haarlem, NetherlandsEven Coldplay did a cover of 'Ring of Fire' on their tour.
  • Rik from Haarlem, NetherlandsBesides Social Distortion did also Dilana sing a rock/gothic version of the song.
    Ray Charles took the song to the soul and blues when he did a cover of 'Ring of Fire' ( it's on the album 'Love countrystyle'). It's amazing what he did with the song. There is a video on YouTube of him performing the song in the Johnny Cash-show.
  • Melanie from Martin, TnFrankly, I am disinclined to believe much of what Vivian wrote in her book. As for whether or not June wrote the song, I am more inclined to believe June who was actually a part of Johnny's life.
  • Garoud from Arica, Chilelike country even though I have never been in the US, but this song goes well beyond country music, is an immortal song just like cash
  • Nicole from N/a, Wiok well at least one person mentioned SD's cover. I agree it is good. RIP Johnny. Great music and i don't like country.
  • Afhhgfhj from Perth, Wai love all of Johnny Cashes work!! love it, love it, love it!!!
  • Marco from Luleå, Swedenfantastic artist, thanks to the film more people will get their eyes opened for this incredible man
  • Owen from Sturgeon Bay, WiThis song is the greatest song i have ever heard in my life. I listen to it once a day and if i forget i am depressed the whole day. I don't no what i would do without this song!
  • Joe from Great Falls, MtHey doesnt anybody know that june took the course was taken from a song that the Carter Family did in their earlier years. ya'll aint really johnny cash buffs are you? He was the ultimate American, and Ring of fire is one of the most known songs ever. and Phoenix did not do as good of a job as everyone says, but i give him credit, he was the closest you can get to the legend. As much as I love Reese, but when i bought Live At Folsom, and heard the Actual June Carter, I was thoroughly disappointed. was anyone else?
  • Ryan from Columbus, OhIt was also used in the Silent Hill movie, which rocked if you're into SH like me. Anyway, the song fit perfectly when the jukebox suddenly switched on.
  • Ryan from Columbus, OhJohnny Cash has to be one of the greatest musicians in history. Let me put it this way;

    I hate country with a passion, but I love Johnny Cash. If that isn't clear enough, you've gotta be blind.
  • Gabe from Somewhere, MaThe Joaquin Phoenix cover is great. He really made the song his own. I thought it was Johnny back from the dead when I saw walk the line!
  • Kevin Quinn from Cmch, NjYou didn't make the connection? I always thought it was a Love Connection, and yeah, it was right. Jokes like that are just stupid.
  • Sonja from Salem, Or
    Ring of Fire

    Love is a burnin' thing,
    And it makes a fiery ring
    Bound by wild desire --
    I fell into a ring of fire.

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire --
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher,
    And it burns, burn, burns,
    The ring of fir, the ring of fire.

    The taste of love is sweet
    When hearts like ours meet.
    I fell for you like a child --
    Oh, but the fire ran wild.

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire --
    I went down, down, down
    And the flames went higher,
    And it burns, burn, burns,
    The ring of fir, the ring of fire.

    I fell into a burnin' ring of fire --
    I went down, down, down,
    And the flames went higher,
    And it burns, burn, burns,
    The ring of fir, the ring of fire.
  • Linda from Auburn Hills, MiI just watched Walk the Line. It was great.
    My son, age 25, walked in when Ring of Fire was being sung by Joaquin Phoenix.
    He told me something disturbing that I did not believe. I went on internet and found this site about Johnny Cash to see what I could find out.
    My son was told by some people that this song was about injecting heroine. Now I can tell him that it is not true.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI heard a version recently on a Radio station in Ashville NC, and it was sung by the Carter family I think. It may have been just Anita Carter, but the anouncer said it was the carter family. Is anyone familiar with this version?
  • Kelly from Wilmington, DeThere's a version of this which Johnny sings in Spanish called "Fuego del Amor" (Fire of Love) His accent is horrible, but he's trying. If you're into spanish covers, check that one out!
  • Tom from Mount Joy, Pagreat,great song. me and my wife walked into our wedding reception to this song.
  • Wooten from Nashville, TnTo show how much June Carter loved Johnny, she wrote this song while Johnny was passed out at table at the fammed Tootsies in Nashville.
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InI heard this song for the 1st time on a alternative radio station out of Chicago back in my late teens, but it was sung by Social Distortion. I fell in love with it and discovered a new band for my listening pleasure as well. It took some years before I found out that it was a Cash original. As I've aged I have gotten more into his music then when I was younger. Both versions are great in there own way though.
  • David from Middletown, CtThis song was also recorded by the Animals on their double album. Also on the album is "River Deep, Mountain High" and in it, Eric Burdon pays tribute to Tina Turner.
  • Sam from Elkader, IaSocial Distortion also covered this...very good cover too.
  • Kevin from Canada, CanadaBurning Ring of fire has those amazing mexican trumpets. Its a catchy song with a tricky beat. If you can nail that beat you can sing the song. It s hard to perform because alot of people cannot play the beat. When I jump on stage with bands I never sing this song because it is to difficult to nail down right.
  • Steve from Fort Pierce, FlBob Dylan did a cover of "Ring of Fire" on the "Feeling Minnesota" soundtrack. The fit is perfect. Bob was meant to sing this song in his unusual way, and likewise, this song needed to be played and sung by Bob. I love it. Find it. Listen to it.
  • Altcountrykid from Reno, NvMy friend told me the ring of fire is when you reach for the vasaline and accidentaly grab the icy hot
  • Doug from Minneapolis, MnOne friend said he always thought that it was an ode to gonorrhea. Probably not, but it could be.
  • Mike from Berkeley, CaI once read a story that Johnny Cash accidently started a fire in the Sierra Nevada mountains due to something he shouldn't have been doing and that this song was written with that in mind and that the proceeds of the record went to pay a debt owed to the state of California for his fine.
  • Kelly from Los Angeles, CaI'm glad it wasn't used for the commercial- Rosanne Cash is right, it would demean the song, and it's a great song.
  • Dustin from Tampa, FlGod Bless Johnny Cash. He was truly one of Americas greatest musicians. "A Boy Named Sue" made it easier for me to cope with my insane family.
  • Edward Pearce from Ashford, Kent, EnglandIt was reported in my newspaper (Daily Mail 19/2/2004) the family of Johnny Cash has blocked an attempt by advertisers to use Ring Of Fire to promote haemorrhoid-relief products.
    Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote the song with June Carter came up with the idea but Cash's daughter Rosanne has refused permission for the song to demeaned in such a manner!
  • Reuben from Devils Lake, NdI wish you had more of Johnny Cash's song lyrics. He's got some of the best. Any chance?

    Reuben Schnaidt = therev@stellarnet.com
  • Ulrich from Aalborg, DenmarkToo bad that he is dead now, he was one of the greatest.
  • Mark from London, Ontario, CanadaI thought that it might have been about the the consequences of eating spicy foods...
see more comments

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