Random Thoughts- Do They Have Meaning?: Ring of Fire- A Broken Heart?

Love Is A Burning Thing
And It Makes A Fiery Ring
Bound By Wild Desire
I Fell Into A Ring Of Fire

CHORUS:
I Fell Into A Burning 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 Burning 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

CHORUS
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher
Cool New Version of Johnny Cash
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down(down), Down(down), Down(down)
And The Flames Went Higher Higher 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
Oh Yeah!
The Ring Of Fire
For Johnny and June
Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore

In a number of posts I have mentioned how a number of my friends are splitting up with their wives. As a consequence I have had many conversations in which we have discussed love and relationships, not to mention the time that I have spent thinking about the topic on my own.

If you have spent any time hanging out around here it should be apparent that I have never been afraid to share my opinion with others. However, the beauty of age and the wisdom you acquire (Hah! I know who am I to claim wisdom) is that sometimes you learn how to keep your opinions to yourself.

So here are some thoughts that I didn't share and some that I did.

Many people have said that sometimes love just isn't enough to keep a relationship alive. There is a lot of truth to that, especially if you don't like the person you love. But I think that if you are very lucky you have the kind of love that I hear described in Ring of Fire.

It is the kind of love that you can't quite describe. It is the love that takes your breath away and makes you willing to walk through fire for him/her. It is the kind of love that makes you act like a fool.

Some people might claim that what I have described is a young and immature love, but I don't necessarily believe that to be true. Sometimes a couple goes through hell and comes out the other side. Sometimes circumstances help to forge their love into something that just doesn't break.

Ring of Fire is one of my favorite songs. It has a quite a bit of meaning to me. Here are a number of different versions of the song.

Ring of Fire- George Canyon
Ring of Fire- Ray Charles
Ring of Fire- Social Distortion
Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson
Ring of Fire- Wall of Voodoo
Ring of Fire- Dilana
Ring of Fire- Dwight Yoakam
Ring of Fire- June Carter Cash
Ring of Fire- Coldplay
Ring of Fire- Lucy Kaplansky
Ring of Fire- Blondie
Ring of Fire- Leningrad Cowboys

Now as I have had these discussions with the boys I have had occasion to consider the times in which my heart has been broken. It has happened more than a few times. And each time it has happened I have gone through moments like those described below:

"No one knows what it's like to be the bad man
To be the sad man behind blue eyes
No one knows what it's like
To be hated, to be fated to telling only lies

But my dreams, they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance that's never free

No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings like I do and I blame you!
No one bites back as hard on their anger
None of my pain and woe can show through

But my dreams, they aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours only lonely
My love is vengeance, that's never free

When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool

And If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
And If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat

No one knows what it's like to be the bad man
To be the sad man behind blue eyes"
Behind Blue Eyes- The Who