NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Johnny Cash historian Mark Stielper and Cash's son, John Carter Cash, on their book, Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics and the Man in Black's legacy as a songwriter.

Johnny Cash once said "Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks" and Tom Petty used it as the opening line of this 1996 song.

All this is indicated via the following quotes from Johnny Cash himself, collated from various sources over the decades of his career, that shed some light on how he penned his greatest work. 1.

Country star Johnny Cash found crossover success with several hits in his career, but his most famous song was one he didn't write.

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Johnny Cash historian Mark Stielper and Cash's son, John Carter Cash, on their book, Johnny Cash: The Life in Lyrics and the Man in Black's legacy as a songwriter.

Johnny Cash, in one way or another, dominated the American music scene for more than half a century, ever since he recorded his first song for Sun Records, "Hey, Porter." DETROW: Cash is most ...

Johnny Cash, in one way or another, dominated the American music scene for more than half a century, ever since he recorded his first song for Sun Records, "Hey, Porter." DETROW: Cash is most often ...

Johnny Cash, in one way or another, dominated the American music scene for more than half a century, ever since he recorded his first song for Sun Records, "Hey, Porter." DETROW: Cash is most ...