The Story of a Broken Heart

"The Story of a Broken Heart"
Single by Johnny Cash
from the album Now Here's Johnny Cash
A-side"The Story of a Broken Heart"
"Down the Street to 301"
ReleasedJune 1960 (1960-06)
GenreCountry, honky-tonk
LabelSun 343
Songwriter(s)Tommy Blake[1] or Sam Phillips[2][3]
Music video
"The Story of a Broken Heart" (audio only) on YouTube

"The Story of a Broken Heart" (or "Story of a Broken Heart") is a song originally recorded by Johnny Cash. It was written for him by Tommy Blake[1] or Sam Phillips.[2][3]

The song was recorded by Cash at Sun Records in May 1958.[2] and released as a single (Sun 343, with "Down the Street to 301" on the opposite side)[4][5][6] in June 1960.[7][8]

Background

"Story of a Broken Heart" proved to be yet another first-rate Cash performance on a lovelorn lament with a rare writer's credit by Sam Phillips. The song tells of the singer's dreading the coming of spring, when wedding bells will be ringing for his loved one. He's left with only his memories of when they were together. The ultimate heartache comes when his former love asks him to give her away in marriage.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash[2]

Charts

Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] 107[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Story Of A Broken Heart / Down The Street To 301". Discogs. 1960. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  2. ^ a b c d John M. Alexander (2018-04-10). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. pp. 31–. ISBN 978-1-68226-051-7.
  3. ^ a b John L. Smith (1 January 1999). Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-3629-7.
  4. ^ John Edwards Memorial Foundation (1974). JEMF Quarterly. John Edwards Memorial Foundation.
  5. ^ Tim Neely (2004-05-01). Goldmine Records & Prices. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-781-7. Down the Street to 301 The Story of a Broken Heart Sun 343.
  6. ^ Colin Escott; Martin Hawkins (1980). Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Recording Label. Quick Fox. ISBN 978-0-8256-3161-0. Down the Street to 301 The Story of a Broken Heart.
  7. ^ Peter Lewry (2001). I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle. Helter Skelter. ISBN 978-1-900924-22-1.
    June
    Both Columbia and Sun Records release singles this month – "Second Honeymoon"/"Honky Tonk Girl" (Columbia 4-41707) and "Story Of A Broken Heart"/"Down The Street To 301" (Sun 343).
  8. ^ The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1994. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-0-313-29506-5.
  9. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (11 July 1960). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 45–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)