Walk the Line (2005) quotes

Director
James Mangold.

Cast
Joaquin Phoenix.
Reese Witherspoon.
Ginnifer Goodwin.

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash’s life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis.

You know exactly what I’m telling you. We’ve already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just… like… how… you… sing it.
– Sam Phillips
Well you didn’t let us bring it home.
– Johnny Cash
Bring… bring it home? All right, let’s bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing *one* song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you’re dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin’ me that’s the song you’d sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it’s real, and how you’re gonna shout it? Or… would you sing somethin’ different. Somethin’ real. Somethin’ *you* felt. Cause I’m telling you right now, that’s the kind of song people want to hear. That’s the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain’t got nothin to do with believin’ in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin’ in yourself.
– Sam Phillips
I got a couple of songs I wrote in the Air Force. You got anything against the Air Force?
– Johnny Cash
No.
– Sam Phillips
I do.
– Johnny Cash

You can’t wear black. It looks like you’re going to a funeral.
– Vivian Cash
Maybe I am…
– Johnny Cash

It’s all right, it just happened.
– Johnny Cash
Just happened?
– June Carter
Yeah.
– Johnny Cash
You wear black ’cause you can’t find anything else to wear? You found your sound ’cause you can’t play no better? You just tried to kiss me because “it just happened?” You should try take credit for something every once in a while, John.
– June Carter

Your fans are church folk, Johnny. Christians. They don’t wanna hear you singing to a bunch of murderers and rapists, tryin’ to cheer ’em up.
– Record Company Executive
Well, they’re not Christians, then.
– Johnny Cash

WE SURRENDER! WE SURRENDER!
– Johnny Cash
Y’all can’t walk no line!
– June Carter

Aw, June, love’s more important than the tour.
– Johnny Cash
Is that right?
– June Carter
Yes, it is.
– Johnny Cash
Well, then start loving yourself, so we can go back to work.
– June Carter

You should go down there to him, June.
– Maybelle Carter
Mama?
– June Carter
He’s all mixed up.
– Maybelle Carter
I am not goin’ down there, if I go down there…
– June Carter
You’re already are down there, honey.
– Maybelle Carter

Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.
– Johnny Cash

Now I’ve asked you forty different ways and it’s time you come up with a fresh answer.
– Johnny Cash

Tell me you don’t love me.
– Johnny Cash
I don’t love you.
– June Carter
You’re a liar.
– Johnny Cash
I guess you ain’t go no problems then.
– June Carter

I want to marry you and I am telling you it’s the time.
– Johnny Cash
Well I’m telling you with 100 percent certainty that it is not the time. It’s not about time, it’s not the right time, it’s not even quarter to the right time.
– June Carter

God gave us a great big apple, see, and He said don’t touch it. He didn’t say touch it once in a while; He didn’t say take a nibble when you’re hungry; He said don’t touch it! Don’t think about touchin’it, don’t sing about touchin’ it, don’t *think* about singin’ about touchin’ it!
– Jerry Lee Lewis

It burns. It burns.
– June Carter

Your mama was here. Your daddy too.
– Vivian Cash
Oh yeah. And what’d he say?
– Johnny Cash
He said now you won’t have to work so hard to make people think you’ve been in jail.
– Vivian Cash

Now, I’d like to remind you all that we’re recording live, so you can’t say “hell” or “shit” or anything like that!
– Johnny Cash

Next time I ask you to marry me, I’m gonna come up with a different way.
– Johnny Cash

See, June, they want to see us together.
– Johnny Cash
All right, well, quit that clutchin’ on me now and I’ll sing with you, but you gotta quit clutchin’ on me.
– June Carter

Don’t give me no rules. All I got are rules.
– Johnny Cash

John, I have a casserole in the oven and your sister in the kitchen, and I don’t want to talk about the tour.
– Vivian Cash

How ’bout that Johnny Cash huh?
– Elvis Presley

Mama! Johnny Cash is here!
– Carlene Carter

This one’s for your warden!
– Johnny Cash

The phone’s dead.
– Johnny Cash
Yeah. It’s been turned off due to insufficient fundellations.
– Waylon Jennings

Hey Daddy, you okay?
– Rosanne Cash
Yeah honey, I’m fine. See you in the mornin’.
– Johnny Cash