music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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]

"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	Rock and roll[1]
Length	1:52
Label	Sun
Songwriter(s)	Jack Clement
Producer(s)	Sam Phillips Jack Clement
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two singles chronology
"Big River" (1958) "Guess Things Happen That Way" (1958) "The Ways of a Woman in Love" (1958)

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 #11.[4] The song was also featured in the 1993 film A Perfect World directed by Clint Eastwood and was put on the films soundtrack.

Content

The song is about a man struggling after the love of his life has died.

Critical reception

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

Chart (1958)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	11

Covers

• 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.

In popular culture

• 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

---