Boy Named Sue Lyrics - Singles - Flatt And Scruggs

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