When I've Learned

"When I've Learned"
Single by Bobby Lord
A-side	"When I've Learned" "Walking Alone"
Released	1958 (1958)
Genre	country
Label	Columbia 4-41288 [1]
Songwriter(s)	Buddy Killen, Ray Baker, Delbert Wilson

"When I've Learned"
Single by Johnny Cash
from the album Hymns from the Heart
A-side	"The Big Battle" "When I've Learned"
Released	1962 (1962)
Genre	country
Label	Columbia 4-42301
Songwriter(s)	Buddy Killen, Ray Baker, Delbert Wilson [2] [3]
Music video
"When I've Learned" (audio only) on YouTube

Bobby Lord

"When I've Learned" / "Walking Alone"
Review scores
Source	Rating
Billboard	(positive) [4]

"When I've Learned" (also known as "When I've Learned (Enough to Die)") is a song written by Buddy Killen, Ray Baker and Delbert Wilson. ^{[2] [5]} and released in 1958 as a single (Columbia 4-41288) by Bobby Lord. ^{[1] [4] [6] [7]}

Later, the song was notably recorded by Johnny Cash. ^{[8] [5]}

Cash's version was released as a single by Columbia Records (Columbia 4-42301, with "The Big Battle" on the opposite side) ^{[9] [10]} in January, ^[11] February, ^[12] or March 1962. ^[13]

Composition

John M. Alexander in his book The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash calls the songs "one of Johnny's best performances on the album ["Hymns from the Heart"], and one of his finest gospel recordings." ^[8]

It's the testament of a good man who has seen heaven on earth by being a hard worker and living a good life. But the singer knows the fruits of this world are temporal, reasoning, “When I've learned enough to really live I'll be old enough to die.” If ever the adage “youth is wasted on the young” holds true, it's here. The singer has grown “to kind of like this life,” knowing the real payoff for his good works will be in the afterlife. This profound revelation coming from the young Johnny Cash attests to the fact that he always displayed wisdom far beyond his years. ^[8]

References

1. "Bobby Lord - When I've Learned / Walking Alone". Discogs . Retrieved 2019-01-27.
2. "Johnny Cash - The Big Battle (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single)". Discogs . Retrieved 2019-01-27.
3. "Johnny Cash - The Big Battle". Discogs . Retrieved 2019-01-20.
4. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1958-11-10). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 37–. ISSN   0006-2510.
5. John L. Smith (1 January 1999). Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   978-0-8108-3629-7.
6. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1958-11-17). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 24–. ISSN   0006-2510.
7. L. R. Docks (January 2001). American Premium Record Guide, 1900-1965. Krause Publications. ISBN   978-0-87349-282-9.
8. John M. Alexander (16 April 2018). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. pp. 41–. ISBN   978-1-61075-628-0.
9. Joel Whitburn (2002). Top Country Singles, 1944 to 2001: Chart Data Compiled from Billboard's Country Singles Charts, 1944-2001. Record Research. ISBN   978-0-89820-151-2.
   Joel Whitburn (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005, Billboard. Record Research. ISBN   978-0-89820-165-9.
10. Tim Neely (2004-05-01). Goldmine Records & Prices . Krause Publications. ISBN   978-0-87349-781-7. The Big Battle What I've Learned 42301.
11. Steve Turner (2005-10-30). The Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend. Thomas Nelson. pp. 246–. ISBN   978-1-4185-7809-1.
12. The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1994. pp. 21–. ISBN   978-0-313-29506-5.
13. Peter Lewry (2001). I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle. Helter Skelter. ISBN   978-1-900924-22-1.
    March
    “The Big Battle"/"When I've Learned” (Columbia 4-42301) is released and enters the chart at the end of the month.