Guess Things Happen That Way

"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"
ReleasedMay 19, 1958
Genre
Length1:52
LabelSun
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 #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

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

Critical reception

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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

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

Covers

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  • 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.
  • Charlie Pride included a version of the song for his "Make Mine Country" Album released in 1968.
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  • 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

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  1. ^ Richard Aquila (2000). That Old-time Rock & Roll: A Chronicle of an Era, 1954-1963. p. 106. ISBN 9780252069192. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Guess Things Happen That Way". Allmusic. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 74.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Singles 1955-1999. Record Research. p. 103.
  5. ^ "30 songs banned by the BBC". 17 December 2015 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Wie Einst, Lili Marleen: Songs The BBC Banned". 17 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ 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.