"Goin' by the Book" is a song written by Chester Lester and originally recorded by

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

in 1986. Released in the second half of 1990 as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

(Mercury 878 292–7, with "Beans for Breakfast" on the B-side), the song reached number 69 on U.S. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' country chart for the week of October 13. The song is part of Cash's

Jack Clement Jack Henderson Clement (April 5, 1931 – August 8, 2013) was an American singer, songwriter, and record and film producer. Biography Early life Raised and educated in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, Clement was performing at an early age, ...

–produced album ''

The Mystery of Life ''The Mystery of Life'' is the 77th album by country singer Johnny Cash, released in 1991, and his last for Mercury Records. The songs featured are culled from both recent sessions and from leftovers from Cash's first Mercury session in 1986 for t ...

'' that appeared in 1991.

Background

Track listing

Charts

References

External links

"Goin' by the Book"
on the Johnny Cash official website {{authority control Johnny Cash songs 1990 songs 1990 singles Songs written by Chester Lester Song recordings produced by Jack Clement Mercury Records singles