About The Song
“Wanted Man” was written by Bob Dylan, with contributions from Johnny Cash, in 1967 during a collaborative session at Dylan’s home in Woodstock, New York. The song was intended for Cash, who recorded it on February 18, 1969, during his live performance at San Quentin State Prison in California, produced by Bob Johnston for Columbia Records. It was released as a single in July 1969, with “The Ballad of Boot Hill” as the B-side, and included on the album At San Quentin, released in June 1969. The track, running 2:52, is a country-folk song featuring Cash’s rugged vocals, the Tennessee Three’s driving rhythm, and a narrative about an outlaw on the run.
The single entered the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart at number 67 on August 2, 1969, peaking at number 13 on September 20, 1969, and charted for 11 weeks. It also reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, it peaked at number 8 in Canada’s RPM Country Tracks and number 25 in Australia. The song’s live recording, with inmates’ cheers adding raw energy, resonated widely, selling over 200,000 copies. Cash Box described it as a “gritty, storytelling gem” with “authentic prison atmosphere,” praising Cash’s commanding delivery. The track capitalized on the success of At Folsom Prison, reinforcing Cash’s outlaw persona.
Background details include the Dylan-Cash collaboration, which occurred during informal jam sessions where Dylan tailored the lyrics to Cash’s style, listing cities like Buffalo and Tallahassee to evoke a fugitive’s journey. The San Quentin performance, backed by Luther Perkins (guitar), Marshall Grant (bass), W.S. Holland (drums), and Carl Perkins, was captured in one take, with Cash improvising some phrasing. Covers include versions by George Thorogood (1982) and Nick Cave (1985). Cash performed it on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969 and at the 1970 CMA Awards. No major controversies surrounded the song, though its live prison recording sparked minor debate about glamorizing criminality, which Cash dismissed as storytelling.
Expert commentary includes AllMusic’s Mark Deming, who called it a “perfect blend of Dylan’s lyrical wit and Cash’s rugged charisma.” Songfacts noted its role in showcasing the duo’s mutual respect, with Dylan’s words fitting Cash’s outlaw image. Rolling Stone praised its “rollicking energy,” citing it as a highlight of the San Quentin album. The song’s inclusion in the 2005 film Walk the Line (performed by Joaquin Phoenix) and a 2014 episode of Sons of Anarchy underscores its enduring appeal. Its performance at San Quentin, with inmates’ enthusiastic response, cemented its status as a fan favorite in Cash’s catalog.
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Lyric
Wanted man in California, wanted man in Buffalo
Wanted man in Kansas City, wanted man in Ohio
Wanted man in Mississippi, wanted man in ol’ Cheyenne
Wherever you might look tonight, you might see this wanted manI might be in Colorado or Georgia by the sea
Workin’ for some man who may not know at all who I might be
If you ever see me comin’ and if you know who I am
Don’t you breathe it to nobody ‘cause you know I’m on the lamWanted man by Lucy Watson, wanted man by Jeannie Brown
Wanted man by Nellie Johnson, wanted man in this next town
I’ve had all that I wanted of a lot of things I’ve had
And a lot more than I needed of some things that turned out badI got sidetracked in El Paso, stopped to get myself a map
Went the wrong way into Juarez with my suitcase in my lap
Now I’m sittin’ here in prison, might be more than I can stand
I ain’t no false alarm, I’m a wanted manWanted man in Albuquerque, wanted man in Syracuse
Wanted man in Tallahassee, wanted man in Baton Rouge
There’s somebody set to grab me anywhere that I might be
And wherever you might look tonight, you might get a glimpse of meWanted man in California, wanted man in Buffalo
Wanted man in Kansas City, wanted man in Ohio
Wanted man in Mississippi, wanted man in ol’ Cheyenne
Wherever you might look tonight, you might see this wanted man