Happy to Be with You

"Happy to Be with You" is a song co-written by Johnny Cash with June Carter and Merle Kilgore.[2][3][4]

"Happy to Be with You"
Single by Johnny Cash
from the album Happiness Is You
A-side"Happy to Be with You"
"Pickin' Time"
Released1965 (1965)
GenreCountry
LabelColumbia 4-43420
Songwriter(s)June Carter, Johnny Cash, Merle Kilgore
Producer(s)Don Law and Frank Jones[1]
Audio
"Happy to Be with You" on YouTube

Released in October 1965[5] as a single (Columbia 4-43420, with "Pickin' Time" on the opposite side),[6][7][5][8] it entered the country charts in November,[9][10][8] eventually reaching #9 on the U.S. Billboard country chart[10][9] and #11 on the Cash Box country chart.[8]

Later the song was included on the album Happiness Is You[11] (October 1966).

Background and lyrical analysis

Merle Kilgore and June Carter reteam with Johnny for “Happy to Be with You,” a positive affirmation of the joys of being in love. Once again, one can't help but read into it the personal nature of Johnny and June's situation at the time, and the fact that they were truly enjoying each other's company. This was the only single released from the Happiness Is You album, and it reached number 9 on the country chart.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash[2]

In the midst of the chaos surrounding [Cash's] arrest [for trespassing onto private property to pick flowers], Columbia released a new single to close out the year. Co-written by Cash, June Carter, and Merle Kilgore, "Happy to Be with You," with its swirling '60s pop organ carrying most of the musical weight, had a sound unlike any Cash single to date. Even so, fans responded positively, and the song started a slow climb up the charts, starting 1966 at its peak of #9.

— C. Eric Banister. Johnny Cash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man in Black[3]

Track listing
7" single (Columbia 4-43420,[1] 1965)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Happy to Be with You"J. Carter, J. Cash, M. Kilgore3:11
2."Pickin' Time"J. Cash1:58

Charts
Chart (1965–1966) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 15

References
  1. "Johnny Cash - Pickin' Time / Happy To Be With You". Discogs. 1965. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  2. John M. Alexander (16 April 2018). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-1-61075-628-0.
  3. C. Eric Banister (1 August 2014). Johnny Cash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man in Black. Backbeat. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-1-61713-609-2.
  4. Johnny Cash (2004). Johnny Cash, the Songs. Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 9781560256298. "Happy To Be With You," written with Merle Kilgore and June Carter
  5. The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1994. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-313-29506-5.
  6. Steve Turner (1 November 2005). The man called Cash: the life, love, and faith of an American legend. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-8499-0815-6.
  7. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (23 May 1970). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
    Standard Catalog of American Records, 1950-1975. Krause Publications. 2000. ISBN 978-0-87341-934-5.
    Tim Neely (31 August 2006). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records: 1950-1975. Krause Publications. ISBN 9780896893078.
  8. George Albert (1984-01-01). The Cash Box Country Singles Charts, 1958-1982. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-1685-5.
  9. Peter Lewry (2001). I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle. Helter Skelter. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-900924-22-1.
    1 January
    Although it first charted back in November 1965, "Happy To Be With You" reaches its high of #9 on this day.
  10. 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.
  11. C. Eric Banister (1 August 2014). Johnny Cash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Man in Black. Backbeat. pp. 137–. ISBN 978-1-61713-609-2. This is another of the albums that many want to forget exists (per Tost's comment above). Featuring the earlier single "Happy to Be with You," it kicks off with the title track, another sappy Cash/Carter co-write.
  12. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
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