A Boy Named Sue-Johnny Cash

[00:16.55]My daddy left home when I was three [00:18.71]And he didn＇t leave much to Ma and me [00:21.02]Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. [00:25.70]Now, I don＇t blame him cause he run and hid [00:28.17]But the meanest thing that he ever did [00:30.25]Was before he left, he went and named me ＇Sue.＇ [00:34.10] [00:36.43]Well, he must o＇ thought that is was quite a joke [00:38.55]And it got a lot of laughs from a＇ lots of folk, [00:40.83]It seems I had to fight my whole life through. [00:45.66]Some gal would giggle and I＇d get red [00:47.97]And some guy＇d laugh and I＇d bust his head, [00:50.49]I tell ya, life ain＇t easy for a boy named ＇Sue.＇ [00:54.44] [00:57.72]Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, [01:00.03]My fist got hard and my wits got keen, [01:02.35]I＇d roam from town to town to hide my shame. [01:07.01]But I made me a vow to the moon and stars [01:09.43]That I＇d search the honky-tonks and bars [01:11.75]And kill that man that give me that awful name. [01:15.11] [01:16.34]Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July [01:18.70]And I just hit town and my throat was dry, [01:21.15]I thought I＇d stop and have myself a brew. [01:25.65]At an old saloon on a street of mud, [01:28.13]There at a table, dealing stud, [01:30.61]Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me ＇Sue.＇ [01:34.60] [01:35.11]Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad [01:37.62]From a worn-out picture that my mother＇d had, [01:39.86]And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. [01:44.42]He was big and bent and gray and old, [01:46.88]And I looked at him and my blood ran cold [01:49.25]And I said: ＂My name is ＇Sue!＇ how do you do! Now you gonna die!＂ [01:55.74] [02:00.75]Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes [02:03.15]And he went down but, to my surprise, [02:05.68]He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. [02:10.21]But I busted a chair right across his teeth [02:12.49]And we crashed through the wall and into the street [02:14.66]Kicking and a＇ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. [02:18.34] [02:19.82]I tell ya, I＇ve fought tougher men [02:21.84]But I really can＇t remember when, [02:24.18]He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. [02:28.93]I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, [02:31.38]He went for his gun and I pulled mine first, [02:34.11]He stood there lookin＇ at me and I saw him smile. [02:37.08] [02:37.86]And he said: ＂Son, this world is rough [02:41.20]And if a man＇s gonna make it, he＇s gotta be tough [02:43.90]And I know I wouldn＇t be there to help ya along. [02:48.25]So I give ya that name and I said good-bye [02:50.67]I knew you＇d have to get tough or die [02:53.16]And it＇s that name that helped to make you strong.＂ [02:56.60] [02:59.00]He said: ＇Now you just fought one hell of a fight [03:01.33]And I know you hate me, and you got the right [03:03.61]To kill me now, and I wouldn＇t blame you if you do. [03:08.38]But ya ought to thank me, before I die, [03:10.74]For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye [03:13.36]Cause I＇m the son-of-a-***** that named you ＇Sue＇.＇ [03:17.31] [03:21.36]I got all choked up and I threw down my gun [03:24.07]And I called him my pa, and he called me his son, [03:26.32]And I come away with a different point of view. [03:30.68]And I think about him, now and then, [03:33.07]Every time I try and every time I win, [03:35.70]And if I ever have a son, I think I＇m gonna name him [03:40.79]Bill or George! Anything but sue! I still hate that name!