Ring of Fire

 

Love has been likened to many things. How many songs have been penned with love in mind? Too many to count. I didn't know what this song was truly about until I fell in love with a certain woman while I was separated. For me, Ring of Fire finally makes sense. 

There are many versions of this song. I've chosen to post a cover by Social Distortion (1990). Of course, no one can argue with the power of the original (1952, 1963) by June Carter and Johnny Cash. There is some disagreement about who wrote this song, but most agree it was June Carter and Merle Kilgore. The popular explanation is that the song is about June Carter and Johnny Cash's love affair. I think that's an acceptable story. Cash's first wife said Johnny wrote it while hopped up on pills about a certain female body part, but, hey, let's keep this as clean as possible.

In any case, June and Johnny had a long marriage, affair or no affair, and regardless of who wrote the song, it's a classic. June died before Johnny did, but I remember being saddened by both of their deaths, as they were and always will be musical and cultural legends. 

Leonard Cohen wrote a song about being "humbled in love." I've long known what that feeling entails. But, Ring of Fire expresses an entirely different feeling. I've had the lows of love, but until recently, I haven't had the highs. Ring of Fire says there is a side of love I've been missing out on. And before her, I never knew it. 

There are some things you can't explain. They have to be experienced. Love is definitely one of those things. Songs cannot teach your soul what it's like. Your parents cannot explain how it happens. Your lover is caught up in the same maelstrom as you, as helpless as a goose in a wind storm. 

It's beautiful. It's dangerous. It's just ... indescribable. So, here's my homage to that indescribable feeling, and to that woman who allowed me to see at last what I was missing out on. I don't know if she fell into that same burning ring of fire as I did, but if she did, I hope we never find our way out.

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