Ring of Fire
Daniel O'Donnell Lyrics

The song "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash was originally written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The two had fallen in love and June described their courtship as being "like being in a ring of fire". This metaphor inspired her to write the song. Many years later, June reminisced that the phrase referred specifically to the exciting, almost dangerous way that she felt about Johnny, but it can also apply more broadly to the fiery, all-consuming nature of true love.

The song is about being consumed by love and the intensity of the feelings that come with it. The first verse sets this up by describing love as a burning thing that creates a fiery ring. The second verse talks about the singer falling into this ring of fire, followed by the chorus (which repeats twice) describing the feeling of being engulfed in flames. The third verse shifts the focus to the sweetness of love when it's good, but the image is quickly twisted as the fire goes wild, befitting the metaphor that love can be both sweet and dangerous.

One interesting fact about the song is that Johnny Cash didn't actually write it himself -- it was written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. Additionally, the mariachi-style horns that are so iconic to the song were added by Cash's producer, Don Law, who thought that the song needed a unique "hooks" to make it stand out.