The invention relates to a high-carbon steel wire with good fine steel cord drawing machining performance. Chemical components of the steel wire include, by mass percentage, 0.60-1.00% of C, 0.10-0.60% of Si, 0.10-0.20% of Mn, 0.20-0.50% of Cr, smaller than or equal to 0.01% of S, smaller than or equal to 0.013% of P, smaller than or equal to 0.05% of Cu, smaller than or equal to 0.0010% of Ca, smaller than or equal to 0.005% of V, 0.0010-0.0040% of N, smaller than 0.0010% of solid dissolved N, smaller than or equal to 0.0030% of Al, smaller than or equal to 0.02% of Mo, smaller than or equal to 0.02% of Ni, smaller than or equal to 0.0005% of B and the balance Fe. Due to the fact that the key elements in the steel wire are optimized, the steel wire which has the good mechanical performance, a specific pearlite microstructure and more simple components is obtained, and the requirement for the good steel cord drawing machining performance is met.