Song by Song: "I Walk the Line" Quiz

Answer: true

The song peaked at number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the U.S. Hot Country Songs Billboard charts. Cash had previously had a hit with "Folsom Prison Blues," but it only peaked at number four on the Hot Country Songs chart. "I Walk the Line" was the first time any of his songs reached number one.

Answer: Sun Studio

"I Walk the Line" was recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee on April 2, 1956. It was written by Johnny Cash and produced by Sam Phillips. The single was released May 1, 1956. Originally called Memphis Recording Service, Sun Studio opened in 1950 and has recorded such artists as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley.

Answer: Wound a piece of wax paper through his guitar strings

According to Rolling Stone magazine in its 2004 article "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time," Johnny Cash started recording "I Walk the Line" only to later find the tape was mangled. "But Cash liked the strange sound," the magazine reported, "and added a click-clack rhythm by winding a piece of wax paper through his guitar strings."

Answer: Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!

The song appeared on Cash's debut album, "Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!" The album was released in 1957 and included several previously released singles ("Cry Cry Cry," "Folsom Prison Blues," "So Doggone Lonesome," and "I Walk the Line"). "I Walk the Line" was later included on "Johnny Cash Sings the Songs that Made Him Famous." Cash re-recorded the song four times for additional albums as well.

Answer: mine

"I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time."

The country-influenced rock and roll duo the Everly Brothers covered "I Walk the Line" on their 1963 album "The Everly Brothers Sing Great Country Hits." It was covered the same year by Dean Martin on his album "Dean 'Tex' Martin: Country Style."

Answer: binds

"I keep the ends out for the tie that binds.
Because you're mine, I walk the line."

The singer says he finds it easy to stay faithful, going to bed alone each night, because of his love:

"I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line."

Johnny Cash had married Vivian Liberto a little over a year and a half before this song was written. The couple had four daughters together and divorced in 1966 after twelve years of marriage.

Answer: Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy played Spock on "Star Trek". His album, "The New World of Leonard Nimoy," included a cover of Cash's song along with other country classics such as "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" and "Let It Be Me." This was Nimoy's second album. In 1969, he released "The Touch of Leonard Nimoy."

Answer: tide

"You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line."

Each stanza of the song contains three rhyming lines (a tercet) followed by the refrain "Because you're mine, I walk the line," which does not rhyme with the rest of the stanza, but has its own internal rhyme ("mine" and "line").

"I Walk the Line" has been covered by artists ranging from Travis Tritt, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Hank Williams, Jr. to Live, New Kingston, Burl Ives, and the Downlands.

Answer: Dolly Parton

Known as Backwoods Barbie, the Smoky Mountain Songbird, The Queen of Nashville, and the Iron Butterfly, among other colorful nicknames, Dolly Parton covered Cash's famous song on her 1984 album. "The Great Pretender" included covers of other popular songs as well, including Pete Seger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and Curtis Mayfield's "She Don't Love You (Like I Love You)."

Answer: Get Rhythm

Rodney Crowell, who was married to Johnny Cash's daughter Rosanne from 1979 to 1992, wrote a fast-paced song called "I Walk the Line (Revisited)" for his 2001 album "The Houston Kid." Johnny Cash sang the original lyrics to "I Walk the Line" within the song.

Rolling Stone Magazine ranked "I Walk the Line" number 30 in its 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."