A Boy Named Sue (Live)-Johnny Cash

[00:20.06]My daddy left home when I was three [00:22.08]And he didn't leave much to ma and me [00:23.89]Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. [00:29.14]Now' I don't blame him cause he run and hid [00:31.33]But the meanest thing that he ever did [00:33.51]Was before he left' he went and named me "Sue." [00:39.71]Well' he must o' thought that is quite a joke [00:42.08]And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk' [00:44.70]It seems I had to fight my whole life through. [00:49.09]Some gal would giggle and I'd get red [00:51.53]I tell ya' life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue." [01:00.99]Well' I grew up quick and I grew up mean' [01:03.30]My fist got hard and my wits got keen' [01:05.67]I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame. [01:10.42]But I made a vow to the moon and stars [01:12.73]That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars [01:15.04]And kill that man who gave me that awful name. [01:19.61]Well' it was Gatlinburg in mid-July [01:21.04]And I just hit town and my throat was dry' [01:24.86]I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. [01:29.23]At an old saloon on a street of mud' [01:31.42]There at a table' dealing stud' [01:33.98]Sat the dirty' mangy dog that named me "Sue." [01:38.54]Well' I knew that snake was my own sweet dad [01:41.04]From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had' [01:43.23]And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. [01:47.92]He was big and bent and gray and old' [01:50.29]And I looked at him and my blood ran cold [01:52.67]And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do! [01:57.67]Now your gonna die!!" [02:02.29]Well' I hit him hard right between the eyes [02:06.79]And he went down' but to my surprise' [02:09.54]He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. [02:13.85]But I busted a chair right across his teeth [02:16.10]And we crashed through the wall and into the street [02:18.54]Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. [02:23.42]I tell ya' I've fought tougher men [02:25.29]But I really can't remember when' [02:27.85]He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. [02:32.66]I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss' [02:35.12]He went for his gun and I pulled mine first' [02:37.80]He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile. [02:41.27]And he said: "Son' this world is rough [02:44.77]And if a man's gonna make it' he's gotta be tough [02:47.15]And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along. [02:51.60]So I give ya that name and I said goodbye [02:54.16]I knew you'd have get to tough or die [02:56.56]And it's the name that helped to make you strong." [03:02.44]He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight [03:04.94]And I know you hate me' and you got the right [03:07.37]To kill me now' and I wouldn't blame you if you do. [03:11.87]But ya ought to thank me' before I die' [03:14.43]For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye [03:16.93]Cause I'm the son-of-a-***** that named you "Sue.'" [03:21.62] [03:25.01]I got all choked up and I threw down my gun [03:27.52]And I called him my pa' and he called me his son' [03:29.69]And I came away with a different point of view. [03:34.38]And I think about him' now and then' [03:36.70]Every time I try and every time I win' [03:39.45]And if I ever have a son' I think I'm gonna name him