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


Lyrics submitted by sane

Ring Of Fire Lyrics as written by Merle Kilgore June Carter

Lyrics © Shapiro Bernstein & Co Inc

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Ring of Fire song meanings
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63 Comments

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  • +12
    General Comment

    I'm no country fan but I have deep respect for Johnny Cash. This song describes love better than any other song for me. Cash compares love to a ring of fire that both warms and torments the victim. And the longer one stays in love or the ring of fire, the more intense the flames and the affair become.

    Rotageron February 11, 2010   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Well honest to God yall I was just watchin CMT and this song is about Jonny when he was on tour with this woman and they fell for each other. Even thought they were both married to other people, the fell in love. And they eventually got married. "Ring of Fire" signifies how they both loved each other but felt they couldn't do anything b/c they were married to other people. It has everything to do with love.

    BrittniBoo2on June 28, 2003   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Wow, there's some strange interpretations of this song here alright. To me it's simply about falling in love. Love is like a fire; it burns you up on the inside and takes control of your life.

    panheadz4everon August 22, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song was written by June Carter Cash about the love she felt for her husband Johnny.

    lleemmon May 01, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    "Fire" and "burning" usually symbolizes passion or desire. Something which is a little different from love. "Fire" and"falling" and "down, down, down" can suggest hell, or an ill-deed, or something socially unacceptable. I can see why this song can imply a love triangle or having an illicit affair.

    Also, he didn't jump into it, he "fell" into it, as if he had no control of the situation. It can also mean he didn't choose it, it chose him. Maybe having something to do with Cash being on tour and needing someone.

    gene1102on September 22, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah, woo hoo, lovely song, it kinda makes me mad when people look at this song as Johnny Cash's sole contribution to music, just because it was in a dozen or more commercials.

    FloggingMollyon April 28, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    That's true...about June writing the song. This is a classic.

    allenegirlon May 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's a metaphor for a love triangle. June only wrote the lyrics. The mexican trumpets were JC's idea, he had a dream and in the the dream the lyrics were playin in his head with the trumpets. So I read anyway.

    He is the king.

    one who waitson October 12, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is the epitome of country music.

    It's very unique, yet it explains everything else.

    "Love is a burning thing." ...The theme is universal.

    tantalumtellurideon January 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i love this song so much - its amazing

    its just about being soo painfully in love. which is what she was when she wrote it. & obviously johnny felt the same way, theres just so much in his voice. this song is great

    caitlin.on January 15, 2006   Link

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