If you want to learn the words to this awesome song you can find them literally anywhere; maybe even on a Sunday Mornin' Sidewalk somewhere! And, unfortunately there are many people doing a bad (or at least poor) job trying to play this because they "can't keep time" and start off slow and speed up so fast that they have trouble keeping up with their strumming that it becomes a train wreck.
But here's a guy who does it right! And it is so refreshing to see it played at an even speed. What I enjoy is the runs and chords he uses and I will copy them to use them when I play it in my J Cash Lives Tribute Shows because it's just me; guitar, voice and amp. I need to play both the "Luther Perkins' part" and the strummin' part (pretty much) at the same time.
So thank you, thank you and thank you for putting out such a great video for those who want to play it right!
Here's the video:
Here's why you don't have to play it at break neck speed as the originator(Hank Snow) of the song does it here. Note that it keeps a steady beat (it doesn't speed up). Also, in this version he starts in one key and modulates several times.
When I'm not doing my Johnny Cash tribute shows I also do a Country Gold Classics show. One of the songs I perform is Hank Snow's I'm Movin' On. I found a real treat for you if you've not seen this yet.
The first is Johnny introducing Hank Snow and the next is he and Waylon doing their rendition; enjoy!
Recently I performed my first almost hour long Johnny Cash tribute and it went pretty well; lots of work. It's just me with my electric Martin D-16 (T) amplified and Johnny's Top 13 #1 hits. I play both Johnny's and Luther's part (enough to make it sound as genuine as I can).
I just placed a notice on Facebook and got a few "likes".
Here's my Tribute Song to Johnny that Wes is speaking of in the post above:
I'm always finding more songs that Johnny sang. Here's one written by our hometown boy from Duluth (and Hibbing) Minnesota, Mr. Bob Dylan.
I did some hunting on the web so I could do this right when I play it in my "J Cash Lives" Tribute shows (it's just me and my guitar so I "play" both parts; Luther's and Johnny's).
I've included 2 videos that helped me; Johnny Cash playing using a slip of paper for a snare drum effect (which you can do; and if playing both bass and chords, just place paper around/under 3 of the smallest strings: g, b, and e). The next is what I think is the best "how to" video I've found on the web to learn the bass line part, by Center Stage Guitar Academy.
Marty's great intro to Johnny and Johnny playing with paper in the strings:
Here's the best instruction I've found to learn the bass line:
My suggestion is to watch both videos and learn this bass line real well.
Next I went through the work to get the lyrics with the "right" chords for each verse; something I've not seen ANYWHERE on the web. My suggestion here is to copy and paste them from my page here and put into a word type document so you can play this in the right (modulating) keys! (You're welcome).
A final note: to play along with Johnny, he "fingers" everything as if playing in E but he capos the first fret so he sings in F.
Enjoy!
I Walk the Line
written and recorded by Johnny Cash
