Boy Named Sue

my daddy left home when i was three

and he didnt leave much to ma and me

just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze

now i dont blame him cause he ran and hid

but the meanest thing he ever did

was before he left he went and named me sue

well he must o'thought that it was quite a joke

and it got a lot of laughs from a lot of folk

it seems i had to fight my whole life through

some gal would giggle and id get red

and some guy would laugh and i bust his head

i tell ya life aint 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

id roam from town to town to hide my shame

but i made a vow to the moon and stars

that id search the honky-tonks and bars

and kill that man who gave me that awful name

well it was galtinburg in mid july

and i just hit town and my throat was dry

i thought id stop and have myself a brew

at an old saloon on a street of mud

there at a table dealing stud

sit that dirty mangy dog that named me sue

well i knew that snake was my own sweet dad

from a worn out picture that my motherd had

and i knew that scar on his check and is evil eye

he was big and bent and grey and old

and i look at him and my blood ran cold

and i said my name is sue how do u do

now your gonna die

well i hit him hard right between the eyes

and he went down but to my surprise

he came up with a knife and i cut off a peice of my ear

but i busted a chair right a across his teeth

and 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 fought tougher men

but i really cant remember when

he kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile

i heard him laugh then i heard him cuss

he went for his gun but i pulled mine first

he stood there looking at me and i saw him smile

and he said son this world his rough

and if a mans gotta make it then hes got to be tough

and i knew i wouldnt be there to help ya along

so i give ya that name and i said goodbye

i knew youd have to get tough or die

and its the name that helped to make you strong

he said now you just fought one hell of a fight

and i know you hate me you got that right

to kill me now i wouldnt blame you

but you oughta think me before i die

for the gravel in ya guts and that spite in ya eye

cause im the sone - of - a ***** that named you sue

i got all choked up and i threw down my gun

and i called him my pa and he called me his son

and i came away with a diffrent point of veiw

and i think about him now and then

every time i try i win

and if i ever have a son i think i am gonna name him

bill or george anything but sue i still hate that name