"Understand Your Man" is a song written and recorded by American singer Johnny Cash. It was released in January 1964 as the first single from the album I Walk the Line. The single went to #1 on the country charts for six weeks. The song also crossed over to the Top 40, peaking at #35.

Cash Box described it as "a medium-paced, rhythmic ditty which offers a meaningful plea for man-woman understanding."

Understand Your Man

Cash borrowed parts of the melody from Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", which itself is borrowed from the song "Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons When I'm Gone".

Understand Your Man

It was also the last song Cash ever performed in front of an audience. It was the last song in his performance at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, on 5 July 2003. Prior to singing it, Cash told the audience that at that point he had not performed it live in 25 years. (It was not, however, the final song he ever sang as, despite failing health, he continued to make studio recordings until late August 2003, shortly before his death.)

Understand Your Man

Chart performance

References

1964 singles

Johnny Cash songs

Songs written by Johnny Cash

Columbia Records singles

1964 songs

Song recordings produced by Don Law