Don't Take Your Guns to Town

E550906

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" is a classic country song by Johnny Cash that tells a tragic coming-of-age story about a young cowboy who ignores his mother's warning and meets a violent end.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf single
song
album The Fabulous Johnny Cash NERFINISHED
artist Johnny Cash NERFINISHED
chart Billboard Hot Country Songs NERFINISHED
chartPerformance Billboard country chart number one
composer Johnny Cash NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
format 7-inch single
genre country
country and western
hasBside I Still Miss Someone NERFINISHED
hasCoverVersionBy Glen Campbell NERFINISHED
The Highwaymen NERFINISHED
U2 NERFINISHED
Waylon Jennings NERFINISHED
hasMusicVideo no original 1950s promotional video
includedIn Johnny Cash live setlists
instrumentation acoustic guitar
bass
drums
electric guitar
label Columbia Records
language English
lyricMotive gun culture
ignoring parental advice
mainCharacterInLyrics young cowboy named Billy
narrativeTheme coming of age
mother's warning
tragic fate
violence
notableFor anti-violence message
being one of Johnny Cash's signature songs
storytelling lyrics
originalReleaseYear 1958
partOf Johnny Cash discography NERFINISHED
performer Johnny Cash NERFINISHED
producer Don Law NERFINISHED
recordingYear 1958
settingInLyrics Western frontier town
subgenre story song
tempo medium
timeSignature 4/4
trackNumberOnAlbum 1
vocalStyle baritone lead vocal
writer Johnny Cash NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Elevation bSide Don't Take Your Guns to Town