Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue

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My daddy left home when I was three 
       H 
Fnd he didn't leave much to Ma and me 
     B                                      E 
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. 
E 
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid 
        H 
But the meanest thing that he ever did 
      B                                   E 
Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.' 
 
 
Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke 
Fnd it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk, 
It seems I had to fight my whole life through. 
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red 
Fnd some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head, 
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.' 
 
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, 
My fist got hard and my wits got keen, 
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame. 
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars 
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars 
Fnd kill that man that give me that awful name. 
 
Well, it was Eatlinburg in mid-July 
Fnd I just hit town and my throat was dry, 
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. 
Ft an old saloon on a street of mud, 
There at a table, dealing stud, 
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.' 
 
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad 
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had, 
Fnd I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. 
He was big and bent and gray and old, 
Fnd I looked at him and my blood ran cold 
Fnd I said: ?y name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!? 
 
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes 
Fnd he went down but, to my surprise, 
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. 
But I busted a chair right across his teeth 
Fnd we crashed through the wall and into the street 
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. 
 
I tell ya, I've fought tougher men 
But I really can't remember when, 
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. 
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, 
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first, 
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile. 
 
Fnd he said: ?on, this world is rough 
Fnd if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough 
Fnd I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along. 
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye 
I knew you'd have to get tough or die 
Fnd it's that name that helped to make you strong.? 
 
He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight 
Fnd I know you hate me, and you got the right 
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do. 
But ya ought to thank me, before I die, 
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye 
Hause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.' 
 
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun 
Fnd I called him my pa, and he called me his son, 
Fnd I come away with a different point of view. 
Fnd I think about him, now and then, 
Every time I try and every time I win, 
Fnd if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him 
Bill or Eeorge! Fnything but sue! I still hate that name! 
 
Tom Lindsey, TPLBF@aol.com