Although the phrase "Ring of Fire" sounds somewhat ominous, the term refers to falling in love - which is what June Carter was experiencing with Johnny Cash at the time. Some sources claim that June had seen the phrase, "Love is like a burning ring of fire," underlined in one of her uncle A. P. Carter's Elizabethan books of poetry.
The song was originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter, on her Mercury Records album Folk Songs Old and New (1962) as "(Love's) Ring of Fire". It was released as a single and was a featured "pick hit" in Billboard magazine. When the song failed to become a major hit for Anita, Cash recorded it his own way, adding the mariachi-style horns. Mother Maybelle Carter and The Carter sisters feature prominently singing harmony.
Ring of Fire
Jonny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 as the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
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 as 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 as 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
Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" is a song that describes the all-consuming nature of love. The lyrics depict love as a burning thing that creates a fiery ring. This ring is created from the wild desire that love elicits from those who experience it. The metaphor here is that the ring of fire is the all-consuming passion that two lovers share, and that passion is compared to flames that are burning out of control.
Cash goes on to describe how he fell into the burning ring of fire, where he went down as the flames grew higher. This image of sinking into a fiery pit is a clear portrayal of how love can be as dangerous and consuming as fire. The chorus repeats the line "And it burns, burns, burns," which further drives home the idea of the all-consuming nature of love.
The second verse describes how the taste of love is sweet when two hearts meet, but Cash also reveals that when he fell for the object of his affection, the fire went wild. This is a clear indication that the love he fell into was uncontrollable and that it burned brighter than he ever expected. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that love, like fire, can be both beautiful and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is a burning thing
Love is a passionate and intense emotion that can consume and overwhelm us.
And it makes a fiery ring
Love can create a strong and unbreakable bond that encircles us.
Bound by wild desire
Our love is fueled by intense and uncontrollable longing.
I fell into a ring of fire
I was entangled in a love that was intense and all-consuming.
The taste of love is sweet
Love can bring immense pleasure and happiness into our lives.
When hearts like ours meet
When two people with similar hearts and desires come together, a powerful connection can be formed.
I fell for you like a child
I fell deeply and unconditionally in love with you, like a child would.
Oh, but the fire went wild
But the intensity and passion of our love grew beyond what I could have imagined or controlled.
I fell into a burning ring of fire
I was consumed and overwhelmed by a love that was passionate and intense.
I went down, down, down as the flames went higher
I was unable to resist the pull of our intense love, and as it grew stronger, I sank deeper into it.
And it burns, burns, burns
Our love is all-consuming and intense, and it continues to burn brightly.
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
Our love is like a burning ring, strong, unbreakable, and all-encompassing.
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.