So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Love is a burnin' thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
The ring of fire, the ring of fire
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I'm no country fan but I have deep respect for Johnny Cash. This song describes love better than any other song for me. Cash compares love to a ring of fire that both warms and torments the victim. And the longer one stays in love or the ring of fire, the more intense the flames and the affair become.
Hate to blow your mind but this song wasn't written by Johnny Cash. It was written by June Carter Cash about Johnny. I guess this shouldn't change your opinion of the meaning or that it describes love for you... but you did say you have "deep respect for" Cash, and if it's because of this song, then the respect should be aimed at his wife! haha
Well honest to God yall I was just watchin CMT and this song is about Jonny when he was on tour with this woman and they fell for each other. Even thought they were both married to other people, the fell in love. And they eventually got married. "Ring of Fire" signifies how they both loved each other but felt they couldn't do anything b/c they were married to other people. It has everything to do with love.
Wow, there's some strange interpretations of this song here alright. To me it's simply about falling in love. Love is like a fire; it burns you up on the inside and takes control of your life.
This song was written by June Carter Cash about the love she felt for her husband Johnny.
"Fire" and "burning" usually symbolizes passion or desire. Something which is a little different from love. "Fire" and"falling" and "down, down, down" can suggest hell, or an ill-deed, or something socially unacceptable. I can see why this song can imply a love triangle or having an illicit affair.
Also, he didn't jump into it, he "fell" into it, as if he had no control of the situation. It can also mean he didn't choose it, it chose him. Maybe having something to do with Cash being on tour and needing someone.
yeah, woo hoo, lovely song, it kinda makes me mad when people look at this song as Johnny Cash's sole contribution to music, just because it was in a dozen or more commercials.
That's true...about June writing the song. This is a classic.
It's a metaphor for a love triangle. June only wrote the lyrics. The mexican trumpets were JC's idea, he had a dream and in the the dream the lyrics were playin in his head with the trumpets. So I read anyway.
He is the king.
This song is the epitome of country music.
It's very unique, yet it explains everything else.
"Love is a burning thing." ...The theme is universal.
i love this song so much - its amazing
its just about being soo painfully in love. which is what she was when she wrote it. & obviously johnny felt the same way, theres just so much in his voice. this song is great