Janet's Music: Berkeley 1971-1975: February 2019

Walk the line. The term 'walk the line' was not originated by Johnny Cash. The term refers to convict exercise yards (circa 1700's to 1920's). The prisoners had to walk around in a wide circle on a yellow (sometimes white) line painted on the ground for as long as exercise time permitted.

Background of the song[edit]

The unique chord progression for the song was inspired by backwards playback of guitar runs on Cash's tape recorder^[5] while he was in the Air Force stationed in Germany. Later in a telephone interview, Cash stated, “I wrote the song backstage one night in 1956 in Gladewater, Texas. I was newly married at the time, and I suppose I was laying out my pledge of devotion."^[6] After the writing of the song Cash had a discussion with fellow performer [Carl Perkins] who encouraged him to adopt "I Walk the Line" as the song title. Cash originally intended the song as a slow ballad, but producer Sam Phillips preferred a faster arrangement,^[7] which Cash grew to like as the uptempo recording met with success.

Once while performing the song on his TV show, Cash told the audience, with a smile, "People ask me why I always hum whenever I sing this song. It's to get my pitch." The humming was necessary since the song required Cash to change keys several times while singing it.

The song's lyrics refer to marital fidelity, personal responsibility, and avoiding temptation and criminal behavior.^[8]