Guess Things Happen That Way
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| "Guess Things Happen That Way" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two | ||||
| from the album Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous | ||||
| B-side | "Come In, Stranger" | |||
| Released | May 19, 1958 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 1:52 | |||
| Label | Sun | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jack Clement | |||
| Producer(s) | Sam Phillips Jack Clement | |||
| Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Guess Things Happen That Way" is a 1958 cross over single by Johnny Cash, which was written by Jack Clement. The single[2] was Johnny Cash's fourth #1 on the country chart spending eight weeks at #1, and a total of 24 weeks on the chart.[3]
The B-side of "Guess Things Happen That Way", a song entitled, "Come In Stranger" made it to #6 on the country chart. The single also crossed over to the pop chart, peaking at #66.[4] The song was also featured in the 1993 film A Perfect World directed by Clint Eastwood and was put on the film's soundtrack.
Content[edit]
The song is about a man struggling after the love of his life has died.
Critical reception[edit]
As Allmusic describes it, the song "featured an arrangement dominated by piano and a vocal chorus adding distinctive 'ba-doo's throughout [that is] ...slicker than, say, "Cry! Cry! Cry!" or "I Walk the Line" [but with] an eccentric tone all its own — largely because the vocal chorus (who sound as if they're occupying a middle ground between doo wop and barbershop quartet) is in such stark contrast to Cash's lead vocal."[2]
The song was banned by the BBC upon its 1958 release when the head of religious broadcasting objected to the lines "God gave me that girl to lean on, / Then he put me on my own. / Heaven help me be a man / And have the strength to stand alone."[5][6]
Chart performance[edit]
| Chart (1958) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 11 |
Covers[edit]
- Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers on At the Ryman
- Pop singer June Valli had a minor revival of the song in 1961. Her version peaked at #92 in the Music Vendor Top 100.
- Dr. John on his posthumous album Things Happen That Way in 2022
- Terry Manning recorded a rock version for his "Home Sweet Home" Album released in 1970.
In popular culture[edit]
- On February 25, 2010, the song, purchased by grandfather and Woodstock, Georgia native Louie Sulcer, became the 10 billionth download through the Apple iTunes Store.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ Richard Aquila (2000). That Old-time Rock & Roll: A Chronicle of an Era, 1954-1963. p. 106. ISBN 9780252069192. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Guess Things Happen That Way". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 74.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Singles 1955-1999. Record Research. p. 103.
- ^ "30 songs banned by the BBC". 17 December 2015 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Wie Einst, Lili Marleen: Songs The BBC Banned". 17 December 2016.
- ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (25 February 2010). "iTunes Prize Winner to Steve Jobs: Yeah Right, Who Is This Really?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
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