Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash with The Carter Family Lyrics

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Love is a burning thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire

The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

The ring of fire
The ring of fire

Overall Meaning

In "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash and The Carter Family describe the powerful and all-consuming nature of love. Love is characterized as a "burning thing" that creates a fiery ring, representing the passion and intensity that comes with finding love. The lyrics describe how the singer fell into this ring of fire, driven by a wild desire that was impossible to resist.

The chorus then goes on to depict the singer's descent into this "burning ring of fire," as they go "down, down, down" and the flames grow higher. This metaphor emphasizes the idea that love can be all-consuming and overwhelming, but also exhilarating and exciting at the same time. The final verse captures the sweetness of love, comparing it to the taste of something sweet, but also acknowledges the dangerous power of this passion, as the singer describes falling for their love like a child falling for a toy, unable to resist the excitement and temptation despite the risks.

Overall, "Ring of Fire" is a powerful and emotional depiction of the exciting and dangerous nature of love, as portrayed through the metaphor of fire.

Line by Line Meaning

Love is a burning thing
Love is a passion that cannot be contained

And it makes a fiery ring
Love is all-consuming and surrounds everything

Bound by wild desire
The intense feeling of desire is uncontrollable

I fell into a ring of fire
I was consumed by the passion of love

The taste of love is sweet
The experience of love is delightful

When hearts like ours meet
When two people that are well-matched emotionally find each other

I fell for you like a child
I fell in love with you innocently and completely

Oh, but the fire went wild
The intensity of the passion was overwhelming and grew out of control

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The love is intense and all-consuming

The taste of love is sweet
The experience of love is delightful

When hearts like ours meet
When two people that are well-matched emotionally find each other