The Stories Behind 10 Famous Johnny Cash Songs

(via Mental Floss) Johnny Cash once wrote, “I love songs about horses, railroads, land, judgment day, family, hard times, whiskey, courtship, marriage, adultery, separation, murder, war, prison, rambling, damnation, home, salvation, death, pride, humor, piety, rebellion, patriotism, larceny, determination, tragedy, rowdiness, heartbreak and love. And Mother And God.”  That sums up Cash’s discography pretty well. Here are the backstories behind some of the Man in Black’s most famous songs—and maybe a little insight into why he loved those topics so much.