Why We Were Lucky to Have Shel Silverstein Gift “Boy Named Sue” to Johnny Cash

For Johnny Cash and country music fans, it is seemingly common knowledge that Cash did not write his iconic song “Boy Named Sue.” Instead, it was the acclaimed author and poet, Shel Silverstein. Silverstein, who famously wrote The Giving Tree, had quite the musical career for himself. In addition to writing “A Boy Named Sue” for Cash, he also wrote songs for Glaser, The Irish Rovers, and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.

As a matter of fact, Silverstein had a solo music career, as he released a plethora of singer/songwriter folk recordings. However, his forte was certainly writing, and before we get to that, it’s beneficial to know how he gifted his most famous song to Cash.

In short, Silverstein introduced the song to Cash and June Carter Cash at an impromptu jam session. Subsequently, Cash performed the song at San Quentin and then released it. Following its release in 1969, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 2 on the Hot 100.

Johnny Cash & Shel Silverstein’s Live Show

In April 1970, months after the song’s initial release, Silverstein and Cash teamed up to sing their hit. Before the two broke out into song, Cash gave him one heck of an introduction. Cash introduced Silverstein by stating, “Sometimes he wears a beard and shaves his head, sometimes he shaves his beard and wears his head” and “Sometimes he’s writing articles and drawing cartoons Playboy magazine. He’s in Hollywood working on movies and sometimes he’s lonesome, but wherever he is he’s the one and only, Shel Silverstein.”

Once the two break out into song, it is nothing short of a surprise. To most people familiar with the song, they are entirely acquainted with the way Cash sings it—Smooth, bellowing, and booming. However, when Silverstein jumps in on the duet, it takes on a whole new sound. Now, the quality of that new sound is up for interpretation. However, it is certainly not Johnny Cash’s soothing deep voice. Rather, Silverstein, to be frank, burst the eardrums of listeners with his high-pitched nasally voice. It’s as if Bob Dylan and Steven Tyler created a vocal love child. It’s something else, to say the least.

Of course, do not take my opinion as a deterrent to listen and watch the video of the two. Instead, take my review with a grain of salt and decide what you think of the song for yourself. Frankly, there is a place for it somewhere and it surely sounds good to some folks.

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