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artistsong
Crate record
Shel Silverstein

A Boy Named Sue

1969 · via Johnny Cash and 1 more

Shel Silverstein’s recording of “A Boy Named Sue” came out in 1969, the earliest year on file; Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs’ and Johnny Cash’s came out the same year. Shel Silverstein wrote it. Also recorded by Sanseverino (released 2008), Mary Mary (released 1988) and Willie, Waylon, Cash & Kris (released 1991), among 185 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

Shel Silverstein – A Boy Named Sue
From the counter

Shel Silverstein wrote it and put it on record himself in 1969, so this is the song in its writer's own voice. Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs picked it up that same year, which tells you it didn't stay his for long.

Play the writer's own take first. Silverstein got it on tape himself, so you can hear the song before Cash put his stamp on it.

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▶Boy Named Sue
Liner notes

Credited writer: Shel Silverstein.

Earliest release on file: this one, 1969, the same year as Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and Johnny Cash.

Other recordings on file · first release year

185 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

First pulled by @ga-5877 · No. 0426, Oct 19, 2026.

From the regulars

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Threads through this record
Johnny Cash → Jeff Lynne
@ga-2095 · 4 cuts · 7 d ago
Johnny Cash → Shel Silverstein
@ga-7976 · 1 cuts · 8 d ago
Johnny Cash → Bob Dylan
@ga-8583 · 2 cuts · 10 d ago
How you get here
Before Johnny Cash ever sang "A Boy Named Sue," who wrote it and cut the first recording of it himself?Shel Silverstein
a knot from Johnny Cash · next: Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein wrote "A Boy Named Sue" and put his own version on record in 1969. Which singer also recorded it that year, the version most people know?Johnny Cash
a knot from Shel Silverstein · next: Johnny Cash
Pull a thread from Shel Silverstein →

or start at Johnny Cash on a different knot →

Facts from MusicBrainz and the Rabbit Hole Records crate. The counter notes are written by the clerk, an AI, from those facts only. General Admission 4 Us: start with an artist, leave with a rare cut.