| [00:19.96] |
My daddy left home when I was three |
| [00:22.08] |
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me |
| [00:24.51] |
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. |
| [00:27.94] |
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid |
| [00:31.75] |
But the meanest thing that he ever did |
| [00:34.00] |
Was before he left, he went and named me 'Sue.' |
| [00:38.93] |
Well, he must o' thought that is was quite a joke |
| [00:42.05] |
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk, |
| [00:44.72] |
It seems I had to fight my whole life through. |
| [00:46.92] |
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red |
| [00:51.47] |
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head, |
| [00:54.03] |
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.' |
| [00:57.03] |
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, |
| [01:03.20] |
My fist got hard and my wits got keen, |
| [01:05.63] |
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame. |
| [01:09.20] |
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars |
| [01:12.74] |
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars |
| [01:15.18] |
And kill that man that give me that awful name. |
| [01:17.99] |
Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July |
| [01:20.86] |
And I just hit town and my throat was dry, |
| [01:24.42] |
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. |
| [01:28.66] |
At an old saloon on a street of mud, |
| [01:31.28] |
There at a table, dealing stud, |
| [01:33.21] |
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me 'Sue.' |
| [01:36.90] |
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad |
| [01:40.83] |
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had, |
| [01:43.14] |
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. |
| [01:46.51] |
He was big and bent and gray and old, |
| [01:50.00] |
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold |
| [01:52.63] |
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!" |
| [01:58.49] |
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes |
| [02:06.60] |
And he went down but, to my surprise, |
| [02:08.72] |
Hee up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. |
| [02:12.21] |
But I busted a chair right across his teeth |
| [02:15.58] |
And we crashed through the wall and into the street |
| [02:18.34] |
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. |
| [02:21.70] |
I tell ya, I've fought tougher men |
| [02:25.26] |
But I really can't remember when, |
| [02:27.82] |
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. |
| [02:31.19] |
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, |
| [02:35.06] |
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first, |
| [02:37.80] |
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile. |
| [02:40.67] |
And he said: "Son, this world is rough |
| [02:44.61] |
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough |
| [02:47.22] |
And I know I wouldn't be there to help ya along. |
| [02:50.03] |
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye |
| [02:53.65] |
I knew you'd have to get tough or die |
| [02:56.58] |
And it's that name that helped to make you strong." |
| [02:59.52] |
He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight |
| [03:04.57] |
And I know you hate me, and you got the right |
| [03:07.13] |
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do. |
| [03:10.37] |
But ya ought to thank me, before I die, |
| [03:14.18] |
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye |
| [03:17.05] |
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.' |
| [03:20.73] |
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun |
| [03:27.28] |
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son, |
| [03:30.03] |
And Ie away with a different point of view. |
| [03:32.09] |
And I think about him, now and then, |
| [03:36.52] |
Every time I try and every time I win, |
| [03:38.96] |
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him |
| [03:43.39] |
Bill or George! Anything but sue! I still hate that name! |
