A 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 run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left he went and named me 'Sue.'
Well he must o thought that is quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a lots of folk
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and Id get red
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 Gatlinburg 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
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 motherd had
And 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 your gonna die!!'
Well I hit him hard right between the eyes
And hewent 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
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 Ive fought tougher men
But I really cant remember when
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first
He stood there lookin at me and I saw him smile.
And he said: 'Son this world is rough
And if a mans gonna make it hes gotta 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 get to 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 and you got the right
To kill me now and I wouldnt blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me before I die
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause Im the son-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 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 Im gonna name him