The Ballad of Boot Hill

Johnny Cash

About The Ballad of Boot Hill

"The Ballad of Boot Hill" is a 1959 song written by Carl Perkins which was recorded by Johnny Cash on Columbia Records.


Year:
2012
2:38
36 
#1

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Here lies less more
Four slugs from a forty-four
No less no more

Out in Arizona just south of Tucson
Where tumbleweeds tumble in search of a home
There's a town they call Tombstone where the brave never cry
They live by a sixgun by a sixgun they die

It's been a long time now since the town was a boom
The jailhouse is empty so's the Palace Saloon
Just one look will tell you that this town was real
A secluded old dirt road leads up to Boot Hill

Walk up to the fence there and look at the view
That's where they were hanging eighteen eighty two
It's easy to see where the brave men have died
Rope marks on the oak tree are now petrified

At night when the moon shines so far away
It gets mighty lonesome lookin' down on their graves
There lies Billy Clanton never wanted to kill
But he's there with the guilty way up on Boot Hill (Boot Hill)

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Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal led to Cash being inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Gospel Music Hall of Fame. more »

19 fans

Written by: CARL PERKINS

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Genre
"The Ballad of Boot Hill" falls within the Country and Western music genre, synonymous with Johnny Cash's signature style.
Album
This song features in Johnny Cash's 16th album titled "Sings the Ballads of the True West" which is a concept album focusing on the history of the American West.
Release Year
"The Ballad of Boot Hill" was released in the year 1965.
Composition
"The Ballad of Boot Hill" was written by Carl Perkins, a fellow member of the supergroup known as the "The Million Dollar Quartet", consisting of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Perkins himself.
Theme
The song tells the story of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral which took place in 1881, focusing on the story of Billy Clanton who was killed in the gunfight.
Duration
The song is relatively short, running a total length of just two minutes and fifteen seconds.
Tribute
Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park in California, bases its "Calico Mine Ride" around the song.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
The incident on which the song is based occurred in Tombstone, Arizona. Participants included the legendary Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.
Marquee Line
The song opens with the marquee line "Well my name it is not important", conveying the narrator as a nameless entity representing the many fallen, anonymous figures in the history of the Wild West.
Performance Style
True to Cash’s style, the song is direct and straightforward, featuring a simple guitar melody, light percussion, and Johnny’s deeply resonate voice dominating the track.
Critical Reception
Though not one of Cash's best known songs, "The Ballad of Boot Hill" is frequently cited as one of the highlights from "Sings the Ballads of the True West" for its storytelling qualities.
Song Legacy
The song is often used in media pieces discussing or showcasing the Wild West, due to its historical context and storytelling narrative.

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