Boy Named Sue



Well my daddy left home when I was three

And he didn't leave much for Ma and me

Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze

Now I don't blame him because he run and hid

But the meanest thing that he ever did

Was before he left he went and named me Sue



Well he must have thought it was quite a joke

And it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks

It seems I had to fight my whole life through

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red

Some guy would laugh and I'd bust his head

I tell you 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 roamed from town to town to hide my shame

Well I made my vows to the moon and stars

I'd search the honky tonks and the bars

And kill that man that gave me that awful name



Well it was Gatlinsburg in mid July

And I just hit town and my throat was dry

I'd thought I'd stop and have myself a brew

At an old saloon on a street of mud

There at a table dealing stud

Sat that dirty mangy dog that named me Sue



Well I knew that sneak was my own sweet dad

From a wornout picture that my mother had

And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye

He was big and bent and gray and old

And I looked at him and my blood ran cold

And I said my name is Sue how do you do

Now you're gonna die yeah that's what I told him



Well I hit him hard right between the eyes

And he went down but to my surprice

He came up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear

Well I busted a chair right across his teeth

And we crashed through the wall and into the street

Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud and the blood and the beer



I tell you I've fought tougher men

But I really can't remember when

He kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile

I heard him laug and I heard him cuss

He went for his gun and I pulled mine first

He stood there looking at me and I saw him smile



And he said son this world is rough

And if a man's gonna make it he's gotta be tough

And I know I wouldn't be there to help you along

So I gave you that name and I said goodbye

I knew you'd have to get tough or die

And it's that name that helped to make you strong



He said you fought one heck of a fight

And I know you hate me and you've got the right

To kill me now I wouldn't blame you if you do

But you oughta thank me before I die

For the gravel in your guts and the spit in your eye

For I'm the son of a bitch that named you Sue

(Lester what the hell that you say)



Yeah what could I do

I got all choked up and I threw down the gun

Called him a Pa and he called me son

And I come away with a different point of view

And I think about him now and then

Every time I try and every time I win

And if I ever have a son I think I'll name him

Well I ain't gonna name him Sue

I'm gonna call him Johnny Cash