While Johnny Cash made this song famous when he recorded it live during his concert at San Quentin, he didn’t write it.

The author, famed musician, poet and raconteur Shel Silverstein, is perhaps most famous today for his books of silly children’s poetry such as A Light in the Attic and Falling Up. However, Silverstein’s songs have been recorded by such country luminaries as Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Waylon Jennings and even Blake Shelton.

Silverstein also wrote “25 Minutes to Go”, which Cash performed for another famous prison concert album, At Folsom Prison.

Cash and Silverstein performing the song together on the Johnny Cash Show.

It’s Cash’s biggest hit; back when it came out it spent 3 weeks at #2. Following the success of the song, Siverstein also wrote a sequel telling the story from the father’s perspective, called “The Father Of A Boy Named Sue”.