Water from the Wells of Home cover art

  Studio Album · No. 36

Water from the Wells of Home Songwriting Credits by Johnny Cash

1988 Mercury Records 9 tracks 31 min
Mercury Records Country
44%
Authorship
Collaborator

Holds writing credit on 4 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 4 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Johnny Cash carries a lyricist or composer credit.

44%
4 trackswritten by Johnny Cash 5 tracksoutside writers
Johnny Cash's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist44%
Composer44%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
10
Lyricists
1
Producers
1988
Released
Data Insight

Water from the Wells of Home is a duets album produced by Cowboy Jack Clement, pairing Johnny Cash with a different guest on nearly every track. Cash wrote or co-wrote three of the songs: 'A Croft in Clachan' (with Glen Campbell), the title track 'Water from the Wells of Home' (with John Carter Cash), and 'New Moon Over Jamaica,' which he co-wrote with Paul McCartney and Tom T. Hall at McCartney's studio in England. The remaining tracks are interpretations of material by writers including Jack Clement, Roy Acuff, J.J. Cale, and Tom T. Hall. Guest partners include Rosanne Cash and the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and June Carter Cash.

Water from the Wells of Home is a 1988 country album by Johnny Cash, released October 10 on Mercury Records and produced by Jack Clement. The duets-heavy record features an extensive roster of guests, including Paul McCartney on "New Moon Over Jamaica," Rosanne Cash and the Everly Brothers on "Ballad of a Teenage Queen," plus Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, and June Carter Cash. It also includes "Call Me the Breeze," a J.J. Cale composition. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, while the single "That Old Wheel" reached number 21 and "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" number 45. The Rolling Stone Album Guide later awarded it four stars.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
As Long as I Live
Johnny CashJune Carter Cash Johnny CashJune Carter Cash Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
2
Ballad of the Arkansas Traveller
Traditional Traditional Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
3
Last of the Drifters
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
4
Where Did We Go Right
Lyle Lovett Lyle Lovett Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
5
Call Me the Breeze
J.J. Cale J.J. Cale Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
6
Water from the Wells of Home
Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
7
Sweeter Than the Flowers
Ervin T. RouseMoon Mullican Ervin T. RouseMoon Mullican Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
8
A Croft in Clachan (The Ballad of Rob MacDunn)
Gordon Menzies Gordon Menzies Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)
9
New Moon Over Jamaica
Johnny CashTom T. HallPaul McCartney Johnny CashTom T. HallPaul McCartney Jack Clement Johnny Cash (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 11 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions Water from the Wells of Home

Who produced Johnny Cash's Water from the Wells of Home?
The album was produced by Cowboy Jack Clement and released in 1988 on Mercury Records. It was one of Cash's late Mercury-era releases.
What kind of album is Water from the Wells of Home?
It is a duets album. Nearly every track pairs Johnny Cash with a different guest artist, including Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., Glen Campbell, and the Everly Brothers.
Which song on Water from the Wells of Home features Paul McCartney?
'New Moon Over Jamaica' features Paul McCartney. Cash co-wrote it with McCartney and Tom T. Hall, and the pair recorded it at McCartney's studio in England.
Which tracks did Johnny Cash write on Water from the Wells of Home?
Cash wrote 'A Croft in Clachan' and the title track 'Water from the Wells of Home,' and co-wrote 'New Moon Over Jamaica' with Paul McCartney and Tom T. Hall. The rest are interpretations of other writers' songs.
What was the lead single from Water from the Wells of Home?
The lead single was 'That Old Wheel,' a duet with Hank Williams Jr. released in September 1988. It reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Is 'Ballad of a Teenage Queen' on this album a new song?
No. It is a re-recording of Cash's 1958 hit, written by Jack Clement, here performed with Rosanne Cash and the Everly Brothers. The new version reached number 45 on the country chart.

Sources