"Ring of Fire" continues to be one of Johnny Cash's most enduring tunes.
It's a big, blazing love song complete with mariachi horns that, according to Cash's autobiography, he heard in a dream.
What a lot of people don't know is that "Ring of Fire" was actually written by Cash's soon-to-be-wife June Carter, along with Merle Kilgore (a fact disputed by some). According to lore, the song was a commentary on June and Johnny's tempestuous affair.
But the first recording was actually done by June's sister, Anita Carter, in a far folkier arrangement.
Both are worth listening to but only one became a country classic.
- Purchase/Download "Ring of Fire" performed by Johnny Cash
- Purchase/Download "(Love's) Ring of Fire" performed by Anita Carter
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