I Walk the Line cover art

  Studio Album · No. 11

I Walk the Line Songwriting Credits by Johnny Cash

1964 Columbia Records 12 tracks
Columbia Records RockabillyCountry
75%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 9 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 9 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Johnny Cash carries a lyricist or composer credit.

75%
9 trackswritten by Johnny Cash 3 tracksoutside writers
Johnny Cash's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist75%
Composer75%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
4
Lyricists
1
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1964
Released
Data Insight

This album leans heavily on Cash's own pen, gathering newly recorded versions of his Sun Records material. He solely wrote the title track 'I Walk the Line,' 'Folsom Prison Blues,' 'Give My Love to Rose,' 'Hey Porter,' 'Understand Your Man,' and 'Big River,' and co-wrote 'I Still Miss Someone' with his nephew Roy Cash. The remaining tracks are outside material: 'Bad News' by John D. Loudermilk, 'Still in Town' by Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran, 'Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye' by Gene Autry and Johnny Marvin, and 'Troublesome Waters' by Maybelle Carter and Dixie Dean.

"I Walk the Line" is a 1964 country and rockabilly album by Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records and produced by Don Law and Frank Jones. The album gathers new recordings of Cash's Sun Records hits, including a fresh version of "I Walk the Line," along with "Folsom Prison Blues," "Big River," "Hey Porter," and the original "Understand Your Man." Cash was backed by Luther Perkins on lead guitar, Marshall Grant on bass, W.S. Holland on drums, and Norman Blake on dobro, with the Carter Family on backing vocals. The record peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200 and reached number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, while "Understand Your Man" topped the country singles chart and hit number 35 on the Hot 100. The RIAA certified the album Gold in 1967 for shipments of around 500,000 copies.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
I Walk the Line
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
2
Bad News #8
John D. Loudermilk John D. Loudermilk Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
3
Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
4
Give My Love to Rose
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
5
Hey Porter
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
6
I Still Miss Someone
Johnny CashRoy Cash Jr. Johnny CashRoy Cash Jr. Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
7
Understand Your Man #1
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
8
Wreck of the Old 97
Traditional Traditional Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
9
The Talking Leaves
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
10
Big River
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
11
Troublesome Waters
Traditional Traditional Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
12
Cry! Cry! Cry!
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Don Law Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions I Walk the Line

What is Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line album?
I Walk the Line is a 1964 Columbia studio album that re-recorded several of Johnny Cash's Sun Records classics, including 'I Walk the Line,' 'Folsom Prison Blues,' 'Hey Porter,' 'Big River,' and 'Give My Love to Rose,' alongside fresh material. It topped Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and reached number 53 on the pop Billboard 200.
Did the I Walk the Line album's lead single chart?
Yes. 'Understand Your Man,' a Cash original, spent six weeks at number 1 on the country chart and crossed over to number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote 'Bad News' on Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line?
'Bad News' was written by John D. Loudermilk, not Johnny Cash. Released as the album's second single, it reached number 8 on the country chart.
Who co-wrote 'I Still Miss Someone' on I Walk the Line?
Johnny Cash co-wrote 'I Still Miss Someone' with his nephew Roy Cash.
How many songs on I Walk the Line did Johnny Cash write himself?
Cash solely wrote the title track plus 'Folsom Prison Blues,' 'Give My Love to Rose,' 'Hey Porter,' 'Understand Your Man,' and 'Big River,' and co-wrote 'I Still Miss Someone.' The other four tracks came from outside writers.
Was I Walk the Line certified by the RIAA?
Yes. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1967, representing 500,000 copies sold.
Who produced Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line album?
The album was produced by Columbia staff producers Don Law and Frank Jones.

Sources