A Boy Named Sue
Johnny Cash
Lyrics currently unavailable…
11 facts about this song
Creation and Inspiration"A Boy Named Sue" was written by Shel Silverstein, an American author known for children's books, cartoons, songs, and plays. Despite his professional trajectory, he managed to write one of Johnny Cash's biggest hits.
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Unlikely CollaborationShel Silverstein and Johnny Cash might seem like an unlikely collaboration. However, Silverstein had previously written songs for many artists including Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show. He was a regular at the Playboy mansion where he became friends with Johnny Cash.
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Song OriginsThe song is said to have been inspired by a friend of Silverstein named Jean Shepherd, who was often teased as a child because of his feminine-sounding name.
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Unexpected Success"A Boy Named Sue" shot to fame unexpectedly when Cash performed it at San Quentin State Prison in 1969. The live recording of this performance became Cash's biggest pop hit and one of his signature songs.
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Chart PerformanceThe song was a significant crossover hit, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1969, making it Cash's biggest hit aside from "Ring of Fire".
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Grammy AwardCash's live performance of "A Boy Named Sue" from the album "At San Quentin" garnered a Grammy award in 1970 in the category of Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.
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Enigmatic LyricsThe song has been noted for its humor, plot twist, and its unique depiction of masculinity and fatherhood.
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Works Beyond MusicNot limited to the sphere of music, "A Boy Named Sue" was also turned into a book in 1970 by Silverstein.
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Alternative VersionThere is also another version of the song where Cash himself changes the words to include his interactions with Sue in the later years, and how Sue had made his peace with the name thanks to his father, further highlighting the enigmatic nature of the song.
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An Example of Spoken Word SongThe lyric delivery in "A Boy Named Sue" is more spoken than sung, especially toward the end, making it an example of a spoken-word song.
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Movie References"A Boy Named Sue" has permeated pop culture and has been referenced in movies like "Get Him to the Greek" (2010) where Russell Brand's character performs a Rock version of the song.
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Citation
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"A Boy Named Sue Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1196813/Johnny+Cash/A+Boy+Named+Sue>.
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