A Boy Named Sue(Live) - Johnny Cash

[00:07.56]My daddy left home when I was three
[00:10.06]And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
[00:12.43]Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
[00:17.18]Now' I don't blame him cause he run and hid
[00:19.61]But the meanest thing that he ever did
[00:21.93]Was before he left' he went and named me 'Sue.'
[00:27.65]Well' he must o' thought that is was quite a joke
[00:30.14]And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk'
[00:32.33]It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
[00:37.03]Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
[00:39.42]And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head'
[00:41.83]I tell ya' life ain't easy for a boy named 'Sue.'
[00:48.89]Well' I grew up quick and I grew up mean'
[00:51.28]My fist got hard and my wits got keen'
[00:53.59]I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
[00:58.21]But I made me a vow moon to the and stars
[01:00.76]That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
[01:03.32]Man And kill that that give me awful that name.
[01:07.47]Gatlinburg Well' it was in mid-July
[01:09.95]And I just hit town and my throat was dry'
[01:12.45]I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
[01:17.14]At old an saloon on a street of mud'
[01:19.39]There at a table' dealing stud'
[01:21.89]Sat the dirty' mangy dog that named me 'Sue.'
[01:26.32]Well' that I snake knew was my own sweet dad
[01:28.76]From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had'
[01:31.26]And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
[01:35.66]He was big and bent and gray and old'
[01:38.16]And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
[01:40.4]And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' how do you do! Now you gonna die!"
[01:52.08]Well' I hard hit him right between the eyes
[01:54.490005]And he went down but' to my surprise'
[01:57.29]With Hee a up knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
[02:01.56]But I busted a chair across his right teeth
[02:03.73]And we crashed the through wall and into the street
[02:06.47]Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.
[02:11.23]I tell ya' I've fought tougher men
[02:13.48]But I really can't remember when'
[02:15.59]He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
[02:20.31]I heard him laugh and heard then him I cuss'
[02:23.18]He went for his gun and first'I pulled mine
[02:25.23]He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.
[02:28.65]And he "Son' said: this world is rough
[02:32.37]And if a man's gonna make it' he's gotta be tough
[02:34.75]And I know I there wouldn't be to help ya along.
[02:39.20999]So I give ya that name and I said good-bye
[02:41.83]I knew you'd have to get tough or die
[02:43.95]And it's that name that helped to make you strong."
[02:49.92]He said: 'Now you just fought one hell of a fight
[02:52.54001]And I know you hate me' and you got the right
[02:54.91]To kill me now' and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
[02:59.51]But ya ought to thank me' before I die'
[03:01.98]For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
[03:04.55]Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you 'Sue'.'
[03:12.44]I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
[03:14.62]And I called him my pa' and called he me his son'
[03:17.47]And Ie away with a different point of view.
[03:21.75]And I think about him' now and then'
[03:24.22]Every time I try and every time I win'
[03:27.23]And if I ever have a son' I think I'm gonna name him
[03:31.84]Or Bill George! Anything but sue! I still hate that name!