The unique chord progression for "I Walk the Line" was inspired by the backwards playback of guitar runs on Cash's tape recorder[4] while he was stationed in Germany as a member of the United States Air Force.

Later in a telephone interview, Cash stated, "I wrote the song backstage one night in 1956 in Gladewater, Texas.

Cash originally intended the song to be a slow ballad, but producer Sam Phillips preferred a faster arrangement;[6] in the end, Cash agreed to the change, and the uptempo recording met with success.

The song's lyrics discuss resisting temptation, being accountable, and remaining faithful to Vivian Liberto during his first marriage.

Cash became the front man for the group and precipitated their introduction to Sam Phillips of Sun Records.

When performing this song in recording, and in later live and television appearances, Cash would place a piece of paper under the strings of his guitar towards the tuning end.

As he explained during a 1990s appearance on The Nashville Network, he did this in order to simulate the sound of a snare drum, an instrument to which he did not have access during the original Sun session.

Johnny, with the Temptations outside his door and a new wife at home, wanted the lyrics to say, "I'm going to be true to those who believe in me and depend on me to myself and God.

The song was covered by French house music DJ and producer Laurent Wolf and released in August 2009 as Walk the Line Remix.