I Walked the Line
My Life with Johnny
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4.5 • 190 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
I Walked the Line is a chronicle of first love, long-kept secrets, betrayal, forgiveness, and the truth—told at last by Vivian Liberto Cash, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters.
This powerful memoir had the full support of Johnny Cash, who insisted it was time for their story to be told, despite any painful revelations or personal cost that might come to light as a result.
Many myths and contradictions regarding the life of Johnny and his family have been perpetuated for decades in film and literature. Vivian, a once-fogotten voice in music history, exposes previously untold stories involving Johnny’s drug addiction, his fraught family life, and their divorce in 1968, as well as the truth behind the writing of two of Johnny’s most famous songs, “I Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire.”
Supplemented by a never-before-published archive of love letters and family photos, I Walked the Line offers a deeper look at one of the most significant artists in music history. Here, fans and readers can experience the extraordinary account of love and heartbreak between Johnny and Vivian, and come to understand Vivian's dignified silence over the years and life in Johnny’s shadow. Through this elegant and revealing memoir, Vivian Cash’s voice is finally heard.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A little-known prequel to the late great Man in Black's famous life is adoringly revealed by his first wife and mother of his four daughters. Before there was June, there was Vivian, the 17-year-old girl from San Antonio, Tex., who met Cash in the summer of 1951 as he was headed overseas in the army. Three years of ardent letter writing sustained them indeed, a good part of this book consists of Johnny's aching letters from 1951 to 1954, revealing his attempts to keep himself away from drinking and loose women, while begging her to wait for him and pray together. Finally wedded, the couple set out for Memphis, where Cash worked as a door-to-door salesman. After Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two began to travel, Vivian, pregnant from year to year, moved with him constantly, sewed his performance clothes and scribbled lyrics for "I Walk the Line" as he drove in the car. By 1961, as Vivian Cash tells it, when Johnny was drinking and popping pills heavily, June Carter joined Johnny's tour and tenaciously pursued him. Johnny and Vivian divorced in 1966. Vivian, who died in 2005, has told her story candidly to TV producer Sharpsteen, disclosing myriad tender details and an affecting ability to forgive.
Customer Reviews
I Walked The Line
Great book if you're a Cash fan or a fan of the movie. It's not a rebuttal to the movie, "Walk The Line", but the other side from Cash's first wife before the movie came out and right before her death. It's insightful to say the least! Don't get bogged down in the letters that were exchanged during the time Johnny Cash was in the service. Skip over them if needed. They were included for a reason, but can get redundant after awhile. A must read for anyone who is a Cash family fan! Get ready for some hard truth, though.
Not really a story
This book was so hard to read. It’s a big book of letters that all say about the same thing…: Really disappointing. Ralley
A Cash Who loves reading about Johnny & Family
My maiden name is Elizabeth Cash so I love reading about Johnny & his family. I am so happy to know more about Vivian. I loved their love story. It reminded me of writing letters to my now husband. Sadly, our children now won’t get to know the “waiting for a letter” experience like we did and how special it was due to them having text now. Thank you Vivian for sharing your life story of you & Johnny. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you from this book. I wish you were here to know it, but at least your girls will now, reading this. Your book was so wonderful that I wanted to scoop you up and hug you like Johnny did when he got home from Germany myself. As much as Johnny said he loved you and missed you, heck I started to miss you. My family & I went to Dyess and saw Johnny’s childhood home. So when I would read about Vivian talking about it, I could visualize the inside of the house. This was a much needed book for everyone to read about you. You deserved to be heard and known about and I am happy to have been part of that. Thank you Vivian.