In 1989, Tom Petty had a big hit with “I Won’t Back Down”. The song, written by Petty and Jeff Lynne, is on Full Moon Fever, Petty’s first solo album. A No. 1 single for Petty, “I Won’t Back Down” was later covered by a country music legend.
In 2000, Johnny Cash released American III: Solitary Man. The record, which starts with “I Won’t Back Down”, also includes Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man”, David Allen Coe’s “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)”, a duet with Merle Haggard on “I’m Leavin’ Now”, and more.
Videos by American Songwriter
After American III: Solitary Man, Cash only released one more album. In 2002, the Man in Black released American IV: The Man Comes Around. It became the final record Cash released before he passed away in 2003.
The Significance of Johnny Cash Recording “I Won’t Back Down”
“I Won’t Back Down” begins with, “Well, I won’t back down / No, I won’t back down / You can stand me up at the gates of hell / But I won’t back down / No, I’ll stand my ground / Won’t be turned around / And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down / Gonna stand my ground / And I won’t back down / Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out / Hey, I will stand my ground / And I won’t back down.”
It’s an appropriate message from Cash, who was struggling with his health at the time, even having to cut back on his performances due to his physical condition.
An entirely different version than Petty’s, Petty later said he liked Cash’s version perhaps even more than his own.
“[It] almost made me wish I’d never sung it,” Petty tells NPR. “It was so good. He sang it with such an authority. It sounded like it was written for him.”
Rick Rubin, who produced American III: Solitary Man, also gave Cash high praise for his interpretation of the Petty classic.
“There’s something magical about the way Johnny sings, and the familiarity of the song gets amplified hearing Johnny’s version,” Rubin boasts. “There’s a trueness about Johnny’s version that’s thrilling to hear – believability.”
Although Cash did not release a single from American III: Solitary Man, he did release three from American IV: The Man Comes Around. On his last record, Cash released his own “The Man Comes Around”, plus a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”, and a surprising cover of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. “Hurt” earned Cash a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
Photo Scott Gries/ImageDirect
More Features
-
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 09: AMERICAN BANDSTAND – Show Coverage – 12/9/82, Lionel Richie on the Walt Disney Television Network dance show "American Bandstand"., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) -
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Garth Brooks performing at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
American singer, musician and songwriter Jimmy Buffett pictured holding a bottle of Budweiser beer during an interview in New York, USA, 3rd August 1977. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
American Country musician Pam Tillis plays acoustic guitar as she performs onstage at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, May 15, 1991. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images) -
British musician Robert Palmer (1949 – 2003) performs onstage, Chicago, Illinois, July 7, 1986. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 20: Singer/Songwriter & 50 year member of The Opry Jeannie Seely performs during Grand Ole Opry Total Eclipse 2017 Special Sunday Night Show at Grand Ole Opry House on August 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images) -
Tom Dumont and Gwen Stefani of No Doubt performing at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento Calif. on March 18th, 2002. Image By: Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect -
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL — Episode 27 — Aired 7/27/73 — Pictured: (l-r) Maury Muehleisen and Jim Croce perform — Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank