"I Got Stripes" is a song 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 ...

. The Cash's version is credited to him and Charlie Williams, but they borrowed from a song by

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter (; January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, Virtuoso, virtuosity on the twelve-string guita ...

titled "On a Monday". Lead Belly's original, also known as "Yellow Women's Door Bells" and "Almost Done", was recorded and released by him in 1939 and reflected his "prison experiences".

Johnny Cash version

The song was recorded by Cash on March 12, 1959 and released 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 ...

in July, with " Five Feet High and Rising" (another song from the same recording session) on the opposite side. According to Robert Hilburn and his book ''Johnny Cash: The Life'', "I Got Stripes" is a "raucous prison tale" written by Johnny Cash and Charlie Williams, a DJ from Los Angeles and Cash's friend. They borrowed from a song by

titled "On a Monday".

Charts

References

{{authority control Lead Belly songs Johnny Cash songs 1959 songs 1959 singles Songs written by Johnny Cash Columbia Records singles Songs about prison