The Little-Known Inspirations Behind the World’s Greatest Hits

Johnny Cash may have made ‘A Boy Named Sue’ famous, but Shel Silverstein was the genius behind it. Despite common belief, the narrative wasn’t drawn from anyone’s life directly attributed to Cash or Silverstein.

While unfamiliar with a ‘Sue,’ Shel Silverstein found inspiration in Jean Shepherd’s childhood stories. Shepherd, famously connected to ‘A Christmas Story,’ faced ridicule for his feminine-sounding name, a critical element that fueled the song’s storyline.