The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day's through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line
You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Because you're mine, I walk the line
I find myself alone when each day's through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line
You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Because you're mine, I walk the line
Lyrics submitted by toterkater
I Walk The Line Lyrics as written by Johnny Cash
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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every one is wronge except Cherub Rock and rossx. This is about his first wife and on his first album, in fact it was his first truly succesful single. He wrote it for his first wife Vivian to assure her that when he went touring on the road that he would not cheat on her. seen by lines such as "I find myself alone when each day is through" and "I keep you on my mind both day and night". He obviously didn't "walk the line" in fact the first time he met June Carter he said "I'm Johnny Cash and I'm Going to marry you some day"
Hey. Where did you get this information? I'm doing a research paper on Johnny Cash for my High School English/History class. I've read all the comments and this is the only one that really makes sence.
Whatever the reality behind it, this may be the most honest love song ever written by a male artist. In my mind, this shows how a man really can be true to the woman he loves. I listened to this song last night and it made me think of my beautiful wife. If you're married and this song doesn't make you look at your wedding picture, what's wrong with you?
Since most of the posts are about what Johnny meant and not what it meant to you, I figured I'd just find out what Johnny said.....
From "Johnny Cash, Man in Black, Grand Rapids, MI, 1975, pp. 87-88."
In the dressing room at Gladewater I was sitting with Carl Perkins, strumming on the guitar.... "This is an idea I got today," I want to write a song that has something to say. A song that will have a lot of meaning not only for me, but for everybody who hears it -- that says I'm going to be true not only to those who believe in me and depend on me, but to myself and to God -- a song that might give courage to others as well as myself." Carl said, "That's a good idea. What will you call it?" "I don't know," I said. "Something like 'I'm Still Being True' or 'I'm Walking the Line' or some such thing." "I Walk the Line would be a good title," Carl said. "Hmmmmmmmmm --" I began. The song came easily. It was one of those rare times I felt a song was just "begging to be written." There was no wringing the mind or biting the pencil on I Walk the Line. The lyrics came as fast as I could write, and in twenty minutes I had it finished.
"Because you're mine, I walk the line".
In addicts' speech, to be "straight" is be clean and sober, to refrain from using drugs and alcohol.
To me walking the line is about exactly that.
I don't get "I keep the ends out for the tie that binds" part !!??!!
@Paymaan My guess is that it's a metaphor of a rope. He keeps the "ends" of that rope "out" (available), so that they can be tied into a knot, so that the rope will bind the two of them together.
This song was actually written about Cash's first wife, Vivian Liberto Distin, and not June Cash
i dunno the history of this song but ill take this opportunity to say what i think "walking the line" means. I feel the songs is about a guy who loves a woman so much, he is completely happy and satisfied with this one person and doesn't so much as even look at other women. he never strays from his loved one... he walks the straight line... never to diverges from it (her).
I encourage people to LISTEN to this song, not just the lyrics when I'm exposing friends to Johnny Cash. I believe that this whole song is sarcastic. With each line its as if Cash gets more frustrated by the lyrics he's singing... read with sarcasm, "I find it very, very easy to be true... I find myself alone when each day is through... yes I admit... that I'm a fool for you!" I believe that this is what Cash was feeling when he wrote this song, and it's what I feel every time I hear it.
I think Johnny Cash's delivery gives this song a slightly menacing/ambiguous edge. It's almost like the narrator knows deep down he's going to succumb to temptation, and he's working very hard to repress this fear by being overly emphatic about how easy it is for him to behave well. I know next to nothing about JC's marriages but I can't help wondering if he was giving it this ambiguous feel on purpose, singing in character; that is, Johnny Cash the man was aware of the self-delusion of Johnny Cash the song's narrator. If so it's one of those songs where the tone slyly subverts the meaning of the lyrics (see also "Don't Think Twice it's Alright", "Just one of Those Things").
This is off Cash's very first album, I really don't think that June Carter was around then (?). What does the phrase "I walk the line" actually mean?
Yea, in the movie she's talking about his drug abuse and drinking. She tells him "You can't walk no line." She's talking about how much he's pushing it and how easily he could just fall over the edge and end up hurting himself or others he loves. Good song. AMAZING movie.