Boy Named Sue

Well my daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
Just an old guitar and an empty bottle of booze
Now I don't blame him because he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left he went and called me Sue

Well he must have thought it was quite a joke
Cause it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks
It seemed I had to fight my whole life through
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head
I tell you folks it ain't 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
And roamed from town to town to hide my shame
But I made me vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky tonks and bars
And I kill that man that gave me this awful name

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

Well I knew that sneak was my own sweet dad
From a wornout picture that my mother had
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye
He was big and bent and gray and old
I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And I said my name is Sue how do you do and now you're gonna die

Well I hit him right between the eyes
And he went down but to my surprice
He came up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear
Well I busted a chair right across his teeth
We crashed through the wall and into the street
Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud and the blood and beer

Well I tell you I've fought tougher men
But I can't really remember when
Cause he kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile
Well I heard him laughin' and I heard him cussin'
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile

He said son this world is rough
And 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 have to get tough or die
And it's that name that helped to make you strong

He said now you have just fought one helluva 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 oughta thank me before I die
For the gravel in your guts and the spit in your eye
Cause I'm the son of a gun that named you Sue
Well what could I do what could I do

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
I called him a pa and he called me son
And I come away with a different point of view
And I think about him now and then
Every time I tried every time I win
If I ever have a son I think I'm gonna call him Clyde or George