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NUMBER 6…..
A Boy Named Sue – (Composer – Shel Silverstein)
Definitive version (Johnny Cash) 1969
Smells like mean spirit…….
You would be forgiven for assuming “A Boy Named Sue” was written by Cash himself. He owns the song from the first note. The song was written by Nashville Hall of Famer Shel Silverstein. But any version other than Cash’s is pointless. Not only one of the greatest story songs of all time, it would rank high on any ‘Greatest Father’s Day Song’ list as well. The “story song” requires an engrossing narrative and a payoff ending. “A Boy Named Sue” hits home runs on both counts. The fact that this tune was recorded live at San Quentin in 1969 in front of an ornery, rapturous, and captive (literally) audience, only adds to the allure of the perfect storm recording that conquered the Billboard country charts at # 1. A novelty tune no doubt; but still one the finest “story songs” ever.
NOTE: Sadly no film version of the “San Quentin” performance exists. This spunky (albeit expurgated) Danish TV version will have to do…..
THE MUSE PATROL 
2 responses to “Top 10 “Story Songs” # 6 Johnny Cash (A Boy Named Sue)”
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you
relied on the video to make yoour point.
You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting
videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative tto read?
I really liked this page your posting about the Johnny Cash song, “Boy Named Sue.” I thought I would share a link to what I am told is a video of the San Quentin performance. It is definitely an early performance, as Johnny is reading the lyrics to the music off the top of his guitar. https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/a-boy-named-sue-live/id206640160