Cash performed the song live to a crowd of inmates at Folsom State Prison in 1968 for his live album "At Folsom Prison" (1968), released through Columbia Records. This version became a No. 1 hit on the country music charts and reached No. 32 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in the same year. This version also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards in 1969.