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.
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.