Posted on 04/16/2021 4:29:45 PM PDT by SamAdams76
On Sept. 16, 1969, Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" hit No. 1 on the country charts. By all accounts, the song is one of Cash's most iconic recordings. To this day, "A Boy Named Sue" permeates pop culture. Even if some folks don't realize where it came from.
For the most part, the song was never meant for a widespread audience. That's probably because it deals with its main character trying to kill his father.
But when Johnny Cash first performed the song live, he figured that kind of thing might resonate with his audience. Because the first time he performed it live was for a room full of convicts. And completely unrehearsed.
That's right, Cash chose to play "A Boy Named Sue" for the first time at his infamous San Quentin State Prison performance. And the whole thing was kind of June Carter's idea, to be honest.
A Song About a Boy Johnny and June first heard the song at a guitar pull in Tennessee. (That's where writers take turns singing their songs). Shel Silverstein, a noted poet, cartoonist, and humorist wrote the song after a conversation with his friend Jean Shepherd, who relayed his childhood dismay at being made fun of for what other kids perceived to be a "girl's name."
Silverstein, who had increasingly dabbled in songwriting since the late 50s, wrote "Boy Named Sue" and released it on his 1969 album Boy Named Sue and His Other Country Songs (produced by Chet Atkins). You may best recognize Silverstein is a children's author, but he had a long and respected career in adult works, too.
In fact, Silverstein wrote with Kris Kristofferson and had a few songs performed by Loretta Lynn, among many other artists in several genres. Here's his original version of the song. Note the different delivery and the over-the-top performance. You can instantly hear the humorist's personal twists.
An Unplanned Smash Hit Naturally, Johnny's better half June Carter Cash (at the time they were just barely married, but had worked together forever) knew the song was a perfect fit for Johnny. He'd heard Shel's version but had never performed the song before.
So, Cash brought the lyrics with him on the way to San Quentin. When he started the song, the band just improvised behind him and Cash repeatedly referred to the lyric sheet on stage. They didn't spend much time on it because they thought it may just be a novelty performance.
The captive audience raved.
Everything about the performance was about as authentic as it'd get. Cash pulls of the performance as if he'd rehearsed every word. His form of talk-singing just kind of came as a natural extension of not having any melody in mind. And when you hear him chuckle, it's an honest reaction to Silverstein's clever writing.
The audience's reaction was a welcome surprise to Cash. Not to mention everybody at the record label. Releasing the new song was an obvious decision, unrehearsed arrangement and all.
An unlikely success, "A Boy Named Sue" went Gold before it even went No. 1 (which is fairly rare). It also earned a Grammy in 1970 and became Cash's highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed No. 2. for three weeks. It was kept out of the top spot by The Rolling Stones' track "Honky Tonk Women."
Pop Culture Legacy References to "A Boy Named Sue" in pop culture abound. Just look at the episode of Nashville when Deacon name's his new boy puppy "Sue." (By the way, Charles Esten, who plays Deacon, ended up keeping that dog).
The song also inspired a 2004 book called A Boy Named Sue: Gender and Country Music, which explores the impact of gender on the development of country music (it's fascinating).
From other artists like Stone Temple Pilots and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Hollywood films to TV sitcoms and children's cartoon, "A Boy Named Sue" managed to become one of the most-referenced country songs of all time.
The song also became one of Cash's most-requested. He played it at the White House for President Nixon. He played it on his own television show. He even invited Silverstein onto his show to sing some of his other material (and of course, "A Boy Named Sue").
It's a fascinating case study of a song that resonated deeply with the entire world, though nobody can quite put their finger on why. Silverstein eventually wrote a follow-up song called "Father Of A Boy Named Sue," which tells the story from the father's point of view.
It wasn't a success, like, at all. Probably because it's deeply cynical and contains some very controversial lyrics. If you really want to hear it, go here. But maybe don't, if you want to keep your impression of the original masterpiece untainted. (Just remember, Silverstein was a humorist whose cartoons appeared in Playboy long before he was a celebrated children's author).
But the legacy of the original San Quentin performance remains unchanged. It's amazing how a live performance of an unrehearsed song became one of Johnny Cash's biggest songs. And nobody but Johnny Cash could have pulled that off.
I knew a couple of older men named Shirley. One was a Methodist minister in Illinois. The other was a big, burley, tough, flat-topped Marine Corps veteran from Utah. He always went by Shirl.
Ok, I’ll post it. What the heck.
It’s Tonto Kowalski
...there, I said it
Yes, I know!
Carroll OConner...the actor.
.
There was a female country singer named Jean Shepard (last name spelled differently). They are often confused.
Was good friends with a boy named Sue.
(Actually it was Soo and he was Korean. But, boy, did he get teased!)
If Saturday Night Live was still funny they would do a skit with the basic premise where:
Cash’s ghost in heaven gets one day on earth to do anything he wants.
Cash asks to spend it at San Quentin to recreate his performance.
Cash starts out with ‘A Boy Named Sue’
Millennial prisoners go all woke with “intersectional” and 52’gender pronoun questions
It could’ve been worse....Sue could’ve been your hubby’s name.
I have a (female) cousin whose name is Sue. I don’t think she ever caught heck, when this song was popular, though.
Interesting that Jean Shepherd was the inspiration.
Love A Christmas Story.
Yep. I have confused them myself.
Thank you so much for putting that up just now.
I needed that smile.
I used to know a couple of boys named Sue! One was a classmate and the other, his older brother just completed his marine term in Vietnam.
Both were really good kids, and Sue was their last name. I met the older one just around the time the song came out.
Naturally, whhenever I hear that song, I think of those two kids...and now they’re old men.
As opposed to giving your son a normal name and actually sticking around to be a father to your child.
Sorry, but I don't give this "father" the slightest bit of sympathy or understanding.
It’s a made up story.
Just like that one about the Harper Valley PTA.
Had a friend named Shirley...first name...short, hairy great guy....hell of a plumber!
Well Archie Bunker was played by Carroll
O’Connor and there was Carroll Spinney
of Sesame Street..maybe born around
Christmas, so a Christmas Carroll?
Vivian Stanshall of Bonzo Dog Band—male.
Once I called up Alligator Records, a blues label in Chicago and asked to speak to Kerry Peace. “Kerry isn’t in now,”
I was told.
Asked when she would be in and was
told Kerry was a he.
Shirley Povich—Sports writer I think
Yes.
Once was browsing in a book store and saw
a mention of “Gene Shepherd” (sic) in
one of Michael Savage’s books (as in, I would listen to radio personality..)
Alice?
Is that you?! 😎
The boy’s name in the movie A Christmas
Story was Ralph Parker...surname
taken from “Shep”’s middle name—
Jean Parker Shepherd
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