Boy Named Sue

Well my daddy left home when I was three

And he didn't leave much to Ma and me

Just an 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 called me Sue

Well he must have thought it was quite a joke

Cause it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks

It seemed I had to fight my whole life through

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red

And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head

I tell you folks it 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

And roamed from town to town to hide my shame

But I made me vow to the moon and stars

That I'd search the honky tonks and bars

And I kill that man that gave me this awful name

Well it was Gatlinsburg in mid July

I just hit town and my throat was dry

So 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

I looked at him and my blood ran cold

And I said my name is Sue how do you do and now you're gonna die

Well I hit him 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

We crashed through the wall and into the street

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

Well I tell you I've fought tougher men

But I can't really remember when

Cause he kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile

Well I heard him laughin' and I heard him cussin'

He went for his gun and I pulled mine first

He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile

He said son this world is rough

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

And I knew 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 now you have just fought one helluva fight

And I know you hate me and you got the right

To kill me now and 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

Cause I'm the son of a gun that named you Sue

Well what could I do what could I do

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun

I 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 tried every time I win

If I ever have a son I think I'm gonna call him Clyde or George