5 Minutes To Live

Album: Bootleg Volume 2: From Memphis To Hollywood (1961)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Johnny Cash wrote and performed this song for the 1961 film Five Minutes to Live, which is sometimes known as "Door-to-Door Maniac." It's about a group of robbers who knock on doors and murder whoever unfortunate enough to answer. The film starred Cash in the lead role - his first appearance in a movie. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Julian - Oakland, AR
  • If you just saw the title, you might think this was a song about living life to its fullest because time is precious, but in the context of the movie it's much more nefarious, as the victims have just five minutes to live before they're killed.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.