Alan Ladd - Boy Named Sue Lyrics

Well my daddy left home when I was three
He didn't leave much to Ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze
Now I don't blame him 'cause 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 of thought it was quite a joke and he'd got lots of laughs from lots 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 ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue

Well I grew up quick and I grew up mean and my fist got hard and my wits got keen
I roamed from town to town to hide my shame
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars that I'd search the honky tonks and bars
And kill that man who gave me that awful name

Well it was Gatlinburg in mid July and I had just hit town and my throat was dry
Thought I'd stop and have myself a brew
At an old saloon on a street of mud
There at a table, dealing stub
Sat the dirty mangy dog that named me Sue

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad from a worn out picture that my mother had had
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

Well I hit him right between the eyes
And he went down, but to my surprise
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear
But I busted a chair right across his teeth, we crashed through the walls and into the street
Kicking and a gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer

I tell ya I've fought tougher men but I really can't remember when
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile

I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss and he went for his gun and I pulled mine first
And he stood there looking at me and I saw him smile
And he said son, this world is rough 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 either get tough or die
And it's that name that's helped to make you strong
He said now you just fought one hell of a 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 ought to thank me before I die for the gravel in you gut and the spit in the eye
'Cause I'm the son of a .... that named you Sue

Well what could I do, what could I do?
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
Called him my Pa and he called me his son
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'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name