Long Haired Redneck/Rides Again is the second volume in Bear Family's DAC two-fer series of his work at Columbia Records from 1974-1981. This pair of albums, released in 1976 and 1977, respectively -- his third and fourth albums for the label -- find DAC aligning himself completely with the Willie, Waylon, and Billy Joe Shaver "outlaw" movement -- as if he ever had to try. Coming on the heels of his first Top Ten hit, a cover of Steve Goodman's "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" from Once Upon a Rhyme, Longhaired Redneck is one of DAC's finest records. He either wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, and the title track became his anthem. In addition, the haunting ballad "Revenge," "Free Born Rambling Man," and "Living on the Run" are hallmarks of his best work as a songwriter and as a performer. Rides Again is an altogether different affair. While Coe once again wrote or co-wrote all but one of the album's ten tracks, it is also the beginning of a darkly cynical period in his work, featuring such tracks as the conceited "Willie, Waylon, and Me" (complete with a reprise six tracks later); "If That Ain't Country (You Can Kiss My Ass)"; his paean to his polygamy, "The House We've Been Calling a Home"; and the bitter "Sense of Humor." There are also excellent songs here, such as "Under Rachel's Wings," "Greener Than the Grass We Laid On," and a cover of Dale Murphy's "Laid Back and Wasted."

Lyrics:

Longhaired Redneck
Written By David Allan Coe/ Jimmy Rabbit

COUNTRY DEEJAYS KNOWS THAT I'M AN OUTLAW
THEY'D NEVER COME TO SEE ME IN THIS DIVE
WHERE BIKERS STARE AT COWBOYS
WHO ARE LAUGHING' AT THE HIPPIES
WHO ARE PRAYING' THEY'LL GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE

LOUDMOUTH IN THE CORNER'S GETTING' TO ME
TALKIN' 'BOUT MY EARRINGS AND MY HAIR
I GUESS HE AIN'T READ THE SIGNS THAT SAY I'VE BEEN TO PRISON
SOMEONE OUGHT TO WARN HIM
'FORE I KNOCK HIM OFF HIS CHAIR

'CAUSE MY LONG HAIR JUST CAN'T COVER UP MY REDNECK
I'VE WON EVERY FIGHT I'VE EVER FOUGHT
AND I DON'T NEED SOME TURKEY TELLING' ME THAT I AIN'T COUNTRY
SAYING' I AIN'T WORTH DAMNED
OLD TICKET THAT HE BOUGHT

'CAUSE I CAN SING ALL THEM SONGS ABOUT TEXAS
AND I STILL DO ALL THE SAD ONES THAT I KNOW
THEY TELL ME I LOOK LIKE MERLE HAGGARD
AND SOUND A LOT LIKE DAVID ALLAN COE
AND THE BARMAID IN THE LAST TOWN THAT WE PLAYED IN
KNEW THE WORDS TO EVERY SONG I'D WROTE
SHE SAID JIMMY RABBIT TURNED HER ON TO MY LAST ALBUM
JUST ABOUT THE TIME THE JUKE BOX BROKE

YEAH, JOHNNY CASH HELPED ME GET OUT OF PRISON
LONG BEFORE RODRIGUEZ STOLE THAT GOAT
I'VE BEEN THE RHINESTONE COWBOY FOR SO LONG I CAN'T REMEMBER
AND I CAN DO YOU EVERY SONG
HANK WILLIAMS EVER WROTE

AND I CAN SING ALL THEM SONGS ABOUT TEXAS
AND I STILL DO ALL THE SAD ONES THAT I KNOW
I CAN'T HELP IT, I LOOK LIKE MERLE HAGGARD
AND I SOUND A LOT LIKE DAVID ALLAN COE

BUT THE COUNTRY D.J.'S ALL THINK I'M AN OUTLAW
AND THEY'D NEVER COME TO SEE ME IN THIS DIVE
WHERE BIKERS STARE AT COWBOYS
WHO ARE LAUGHING' AT THE HIPPIES
WHO ARE PRAYING' THEY'LL GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE

THE LOUDMOUTH IN THE CORNER'S GETTING' TO ME
TALKIN' 'BOUT MY EARRINGS AND MY HAIR

When She's Got Me (Where She Wants Me)
LAST NIGHT SHE MADE IT PLAIN SHE DIDN'T WANT ME
TODAY I WOKE LATER AND ALONE
TOMORROW I'LL BE TURNING' TO THE BOTTLE
TONIGHT I'LL BE COLD AND ALL ALONE

SHE ONLY BROKE MY HEART LORD, NOT MY SPIRIT
SHE ONLY TOOK MY BODY, NOT MY SOUL
MY SKIN STILL BURNS IN PLACES WHERE SHE TOUCHED ME
AND WHEN SHE TOUCHED ME LORD, I LOST MY SELF-CONTROL

WHEN SHE'S GOT ME WHERE SHE WANTS ME
SHE DON'T WANT ME
I'M JUST ANOTHER GAME SHE LIKES TO PLAY
I DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH TOMORROW
I ALMOST NEVER MADE IT THROUGH TODAY

SHE SURE KNEW HOW TO LOVE ME, WHEN SHE LOVED ME
WHEN I WAS WEAK SHE ALWAYS COME ON STRONG
SHE KNEW JUST WHAT IT TOOK TO DRIVE ME CRAZY
AND SHE KNEW HOW MUCH I HATE TO BE ALONE

WHEN SHE'S GOT ME WHERE SHE WANTS ME

Revenge
By: David Allan Coe and Jimmy Sad

JUDY, I FEEL WEARY NOW, OLDER THAN A MAN OF 33
THE GATES OF HELL JUST OPENED
AFTER TWENTY YEARS THE WARDEN SAYS I'M FREE
REVENGE WAS ALL I EVER WANTED
WHEN I KILLED THE MAN THAT TOOK YOUR LIFE THAT DAY
I'VE HAD MY SATISFACTION,
BUT THE PRICE WAS MORE THAN LOVE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY

LORDS KNOWS YOU WEREN'T NO LADY AND THE WITNESSES
ALL SWORE YOU WAS TO BLAME
AND THE WAY YOU TEASED THE MEN FOLK
THE JURY ALL AGREED YOU KNEW NO SHAME, KNEW NO SHAME

WELL I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAN'T SEE ME NOW
YOU'D PROBABLY SAY, THAT I DO NOT LOOK MY BEST
THOSE LAWYERS TOOK MY MONEY,
AND THAT LOUISIANA ROAD GANG TOOK THE REST

AND JUDY I CAN'T EVEN CONJURE UP
YOUR PICTURE IN MY MIND TODAY
LATELY I'VE BEEN THINKING' WHAT A FOOL
I WAS TO LOVE YOU ANYWAY

WELL IT ALL SEEMS KINDA USELESS
AS I PLACE THESE FLOWERS ON YOUR GRAVE TODAY
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING' HERE
I'VE FORGOTTEN ALL THE THINGS I CAME TO SAY

Tennessee Whiskey Texas Lullaby
By: David Allan Coe and Ann McGowan

SEE THOSE TUMBLEWEEDS A-BLOWING'
LORD, IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY
IT REMINDS ME OF MY DADDY
AND THAT TEXAS LULLABY

SEE THOSE CACTUS FLOWERS BLOOMING'
LIKE THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYE
EVERY TIME HE STARTED SINGING' THAT OLE TEXAS LULLABY

YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE ROLL ALONG ROLL ALONG
YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE TAKE ME HOME, TAKE ME HOME
IT'S SO COLD ON THE DESERT, I'M CHILLED TO THE BONE
YIPPEE YI LITTLE DOGGIE, YIPPEE YI

LOOK YONDER THERE'S A DUST CLOUD PAINTING PICTURES IN THE SKY
DADDY TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT, IN THAT TEXAS LULLABY
THEM OLE LONGHORNS ARE A BALLWIN', LORD I KNOW I MUST BE HIGH
WISH MY DAD COULD HEAR ME SINGING' THIS OLD TEXAS LULLABY

DADDY LEFT ME THIS OLD GUITAR, THOUGH I NEVER QUITE KNEW WHY
HE SAID SOMEDAY I'D BE FAMOUS LIKE THAT TEXAS LULLABY
BUT IT'S BEEN A MONTH OF SUNDAYS SINCE I SEEN THAT EAGLE FLY
AND NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO A TEXAS LULLABY
I used to spend my nights out
In a bar room
Liquor was the only love I'd known
But you rescued me from reaching for the bottom
Brought me back from being too far gone

You're as smooth as Tennesee whiskey
You're as sweet as strawberry wine
You're as warm as a glass of Brandy
And I stay stoned on your love all the time

I looked for love
In all the same old places
Found the bottom of the bottle's
Always dry
But when you poured out your heart
I didn't waste it
Cause there's nothing like your love
To get me high

You're as smooth as Tennesee whiskey
You're as sweet as strawberry wine
You're as warm as a glass of Brandy
And I stay stoned on your love all the time
I stay stoned on your love all the time

Living on the Run
By: David Allan Coe and Jimmy Howard

SEEMS LIKE IT'S RAINING' HARDER TODAY
THE RAIN MUST OF KNOWN I WAS COMING' THIS WAY
IT AIN'T EASY LIVING ON THE RUN
IF I PICK UP MY STEP AND PULL MY BELT DOWN TIGHT
I CAN MAKE IT TO THE BORDER BY SATURDAY NIGHT
AND IT'S LONELY LIVING ON THE RUN

I KILLED ME A WOMAN IN TENNESSEE
I JUST BROKE JAIL AND THEY'RE GUNNING' FOR ME
I'M ON THE RUN, LIVING ON THE RUN
I'M ON THE RUN, LIVING ON THE RUN

MY WOMAN WANTED MORE THAN A MAN COULD STEAL
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DECKS WHERE I LEARNED TO DEAL
AND IT GOT ME LIVING ON THE RUN
WOMEN LOVE AN OUTLAW I HEARD FOLKS SAY
AND I'LL BE AN OUTLAW TILL MY DYING DAY
CAUSE IT GOT ME LIVING ON THE RUN

Family Reunion

MAMA TAUGHT US HOW TO SING IN HARMONY
GRANDMA USED TO STOMP HER FOOT AND SLAP HER KNEE
I CAN STILL HEAR DADDY SING DOWN BY THE OLD MILL STREAM
WHEN UNCLE JIM PLAYED THE FIDDLE
YOU COULD HEAR IT TALK - YOU COULD HEAR IT SING

AND IT ECHOED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO THOSE GEORGIA PINES
RAN THROUGH TENNESSEE JUST LIKE THAT OLD MOONSHINE
OLD JOE CLARK, CRIPPLE CREEK, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
I GUESS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE WAS THAT FOX ON THE RUN
LIKE A FOX - LIKE A FOX ON THE RUN

GRANDPA PLAYED THE DORO TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN
ME I HAD THIS GUITAR AND I'D STRUM ALONG
CAROL PLAYED THE WASHBOARD AND THE TAMBOURINE
LITTLE MARY BETH WOULD ALWAYS HELP US SING

Rock And Roll Holiday
WHY DID YOU COME HERE, WHAT DO YOU NEED
DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE YOU WANT ME TO PLEAD
MY FRIENDS ARE DYING TO MAKE ROCK AND ROLL STAND
WHILE WE'VE BEEN LIVING IN A COUNTRY ROCK BAND
WE'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN - COME DOWN
WE GOT TO GET OFF OF THIS MERRY-GO-ROUND

WHERE DID YOU GO, MARILYN MONROE
IF YOU SEE JAMES DEAN, TELL HIM I SAID HELLO
JANIS SANG HERE, JIMMY DID TOO
THEY'RE SAVING A PLACE THERE FOR ME AND YOU
THERE'S GONNA BE A ROCK AND ROLL HOLIDAY
WE'VE GOT TO GET THERE IN TIME TO PLAY

TUNE UP THE FIDDLE, ROSIN THE BOW
WE COULD BE THE ONLY COUNTRY BAND ON A ROCK AND ROLL SHOW
WE'VE GOT TO GET UP, NO TIME TO HIT UP
THERE'S ANOTHER CROWD WAITING FOR THE MUSIC TO PLAY

SLOW DOWN - COME DOWN
DON'T TAKE A RIDE ON DEATH'S MERRY-GO-ROUND

Free Born Rambling Man
I NEVER MEANT TO LEAVE HER, MY INTENTIONS WERE TO STAY
IT WASN'T NOTHING SHE HAD DONE OR NOTHING SHE COULD SAY
TO CHANGE THIS OLD FAMILIAR FEELING THAT
MAKES CHILLS RUN THROUGH MY SKIN
'LESS SHE READ MY MIND AND SAW THE
SIGNS THAT POINT AROUND THE BEND

MY TOOTHBRUSH NEVER LEAVES MY POCKET,
THERE'S NO ANCHOR ON MY FEET
IF MY SLEEPING' BAG GETS DUSTY AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO EAT
I MAY STAY AN EXTRA DAY, 'TIL I FIND ANOTHER TOWN
YOU CAN BET THERE'S NOT A LADY THAT
CAN SHOW THIS FREIGHT TRAIN DOWN

AND I'LL BE MOVING IN THE MORNING,
LEAVING YOU BEHIND
IF ANYONE SHOULD ASK YOU,
YOU CAN TELL THEM THEY WILL FIND
SOMEBODY WALKING' DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A GUITAR IN HIS HAND
AND I'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS A FREE BORN RAMBLING' MAN

LORD, TELL THE CHILDREN WHEN THEY FIND ME,
THAT I DIED BUT NOT IN VAIN
THEY CAN FIND REINCARNATION IN THE WHISTLE OF A TRAIN
AND EACH TIME THEY HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOW
THROUGH THE STILLNESS OF THE LAND
THEY'LL KNOW THAT I WAS HAPPY AS A FREE BORN RAMBLING' MAN

Spotlight
I CAN'T SEE NOTHING' BUT SPOTLIGHTS
SPOTLIGHTS SEE NOTHING' BUT ME
ALL OF MY MUSIC IS LONELY
YEA, ALL OF MY HEARTACHES WERE FREE
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR YOUR FLASH BULBS
TOO MANY HEROES ARE DEAD
YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN THE CITY
YEA, I LIKE TO LIVE IN MY HEAD

SOMEBODY SHOOT OUT THAT SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHTS AIN'T NOTHING' BUT JIVE
ROLL ME A SMOKE, AND GIVE ME SOME COKE
TREAT ME LIKE I AM ALIVE
TELL ALL THE LADIES I'M SINGLE
TELL LONE STAR BEER THAT I'M DRY
EVERYONE'S LYING' BOUT LIVING'
I'M TIRED OF LIVING' A LIE

I SPEND MY NIGHTTIMES IN MOURNING'
I SPEND MY MORNING'S ALONE
YOU SPENT YOUR YOUR MONEY TO SEE ME TONIGHT
YEA, I SPENT ALL MINE GETTING' STONED

NOW THAT THEY'RE BOTH KINDA BUSTED
DOESN'T IT SEEM KINDA STRANGE
THAT I LAY DOWN KNOWING WE'RE TWO OF A KIND
AND YOU'LL LEAVE HERE KNOWING MY NAME

Dakota the Dancing Bear, Pt. 2
By: David Allan Coe and Larry Murray

BETTY DROVE THE SEMI, SHE PULLED UP TO THE PUMP
I THOUGHT I WANTED A COCA-COLA AND I STARTED OUT ON THE JUMP
SHE SAID, "HOLD IT DAVE, COME QUICK, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO SEE
THAT MAN HAD GOT A DANCING BEAR TIED UP TO THAT OLD TREE"

I SAID, "DANCE, DANCE, DAKOTA DANCE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY STORE"
ME AND SWEET BETTY AIN'T NEVER SEEN
A BEAR THAT COULD DANCE BEFORE
WELL, IT'S ONE STEP, TWO STEPS, THREE STEPS FOUR
A BOTTLE OF SODA AND HE'LL DANCE SOME MORE
DANCE, DANCE DAKOTA DANCE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY STORE

WELL, THESE HIPPIES WALKED UP TO THE CAGE
GIVING' PILLS TO THAT OLE BEAR
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THEY WAS GIVING TO HIM
IT HAD HIM PULLING OUT HIS HAIR
I TRIED TO KEEP TIME WITH THE MUSIC,
LORD WITH THE BEAT ON MY TAMBOURINE
GAVE HIM SOME WINE FROM A MASON JAR AND WE ALL BEGAN TO SING

RECITATION:

WELL, I WENT OUT TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA AND I SAW A SEMI TRUCK ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SAID 'DAKOTA THE DANCING BEAR' ON THE SIDE OF IT. NOW THEY CHARGED YOU 50 CENTS TO WATCH THIS BEAR DANCE AROUND A TRUCK. SO I TURNED TO ARLO AND I SAID "ARLO, WE OUGHT TO GET DOWN OFF THESE MOTORCYCLES AND WALK OVER THERE AND SEE IF THAT'S THE SAME BEAR THAT BETTY TOLD US ABOUT WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING THE SEMI TRUCK FOR US BACK IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE." SO WE GOT DOWN OFF OUR MOTORCYCLES AND WE WALKED OVER THERE EATEN' OUR PICKLES. NOW THERE WAS FOUR OR FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THESE HIPPIES FREAKS STANDING' AROUND WAITING' ON A ROCK FESTIVAL. IT APPEARED THAT DAVID ALLAN COE, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON AND THE GRAND FUNK RAILROAD WAS PLAYING' IN TOWN THAT DAY AND THEIR AIRPLANE HAD GOT HIJACKED SOMEWHERE OVER CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SO IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PEOPLE WITH SHORT HAIR STARTED THROWING' ROCKS AT THE PEOPLE THAT HAD LONG HAIR.
that's how i come to learn when you go to a rock concert in los angeles.....you got to bring your own rocks

Willie Waylon And Me
I heard The Burritos out in California could fly higher than The Byrds
Roger McGuinn had a 12 string guitar it was like nothing I'd ever heard
And The Eagles flew in from the west coast like The Byrds they were trying to be free
While in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws like Willie and Waylon and me

Hey well that they say Texas music is in the make
And we've been making music that is free
Doing one night stands and playing with our bands Willie Waylon and me
(Oh Mad Dog)
[ harmonica - steel ]
They say The Beatles were just the beginning of everything music could be
Just like The Stones I was rolling along like a ship lost out on the sea
And Joplin would die for the future and Dylan would write poetry
And in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws like Willie and Waylon and me

Hey my name is David Allan Coe and I'm from Dallas Texas
They say Texas music is in the make
And we've been making music that is free
Doing one night stands and playing with our bands Willie Waylon and me
[ piano - guitar ]
I heard The Burritos out in California...
Willie Waylon And Me (reprise)
They say The Beatles were just the beginning of everything music could be
Just like The Stones I was rolling along like a ship lost out on the sea
And Joplin would die for the future and Dylan would write poetry
And in Texas the talk turned to Outlaws like Willie and Waylon and me

Hey well that they say Texas music is in the make
And we've been making music that is free
Doing one night stands and playing with our bands Willie Waylon and me

Lately I've Been Thinking Too Much Lately
Lately I've been thinking too much lately
I've been stayin' kinda stoned
Maybe I need someone who can make me
Feel like I'm not making it alone
Lately you've been colder than the weather
Whether love was right or love was wrong
Once you told me there was no one better
Now you say you're better off alone.

Yesterday has ran into tomorrow
Wrecking every dream we've ever known
Even though we're lying here together in this bed
I believe we're laying here alone.
Lately I've been thinking too much lately

Lately I've been drivin' myself crazy
Lately this old house ain't been no home
I thought you were something to hold on to
When I could not make it on my own
Lately you've been more than I can handle
Lately I can't handle being stoned
Maybe I need someone who can make me
Feel like I'm not making it alone.

Laid Back and Wasted
By D. Murphy

Laid back and wasted
Driven to drinking
A woman ain't nothing to lose
Don't ever doubt it
I'll live without it
I'll give you the blues

I spent a lifetime
Looking for the answers
Somewhere in search of my soul
I lost it in Nashville
I found it in Austin
I sold it in New Mexico

Ten thousand miles
Of road dust can't cover
The scars that I put on my arm
And the bridges I'm burning
Will never erase
The scars that they've put on my heart

Dying looks easy
Drifting gets harder
I don't know which one to choose
Don't ever doubt it
I'll live without it
I'll give you the blues

Laid back and wasted
Driven to drinking
A woman ain't nothing to lose
Don't ever doubt it
I'll live without it
I'll give you the blues

Don't ever doubt it
I'll live without it
I'll give you the blues

Under Rachel's Wings
By David Allan Coe and F. Spears

Will you hurt me more
Than the pain of sharing her
With other lovers, believers or deceivers
Well, the answer can't be found
When I'm alone
So Rachel, take me home
And make me feel like a man

I know I swore that I'd be faithful
But Rachel made me realize that happiness
Is something you can't share
With Tom, Dick, or Harry
The reason we got married
Was to know when you were needed
You'd be there

So now you know all about her
Now you want to act like she's the reason
You've been staying out at night
But honey, I've been drinking'
And lately I've been thinking'
The way that we've been loving'
Just ain't right

Will you hurt me more
That the pain of sharing her
With other lovers, believers or deceivers
Well, the answer can't be found
When I'm alone
So Rachel, take me home
And make me feel like a man

And the man you feel
I ain't half as real
As the man I used to be
They've took my pride and I had to fight
To keep my sanity
Under Rachel's wings.

Greener Than the Grass We Laid on
I painted quite a picture for the girls in her home town
And she was no exception to the rule
Singing all them songs about the places I've been
Made a body fell just like a fool
She was like the paper bag that once had held the wine
Thrown without no caution to the wind
I left her like the empty bottle lying' on the ground
Swearing' I'd pick her up again

She was greener than the grass we laid on
Underneath that Alabama sun
I guess she should have known
That old' highway was my home
Do-do-do-do-do-do do-do-do

I said she was prettier than Paris in the rain
Lord, I filled her full of gypsy lies
Swearing' I'd be coming back to fetch her in the Spring
Too ashamed to look her in the eye
She looked about as simple as the cotton dress I've torn
Sneaking' in her house at 3 a.m.
Her Momma liked to question me the day after and I was sure
Her intuition told her where we'd been

She was greener than the grass we laid on
Underneath that Alabama sun
I guess she should have known
That old' highway was my home
She should have never listened to my songs, to my songs

If That Ain't Country
The old man was covered with tattoos and scars
He got some in prison and others in bars
The rest he got workin' on old junk cars in the daytime
They looked like tombstones in our yard
And I never seen him when he wasn't tired and mean
He sold used parts to make ends meet
Covered with grease from his head to his feet
Cussin' the sweat and the Texas heat and mosquiters
And the neighbors said we lived like hicks
But they brung their cars for pa to fix anyhow
He was veteran-proud tried and true
He'd fought till his heart was black and blue
Didn't know how he'd made it through the hard times
He bought our house on the GI Bill
But it wasn't worth all he had to kill to git it
He drank pearl in a can and Jack Daniels black
Chewed tobacco from a mail pouch sack
Had an old dog that was trained to attack sometimes
He'd get drunk and mean as a rattlesnake
And there wasn't too much that he would take from a stranger
There were thirteen kids and a bunch of dogs
A house full of chickens and a yard full of hogs
I spent the summertime cuttin' up logs for the winter
Tryin' like the devil to find the Lord
Workin' like a nigger for my room and board
Coal-burin' stove no natural gas if that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
If that ain't country it'll hairlip the pope
If that ain't country it's a damn good joke
I've seen the Grand Ole Opry and I've met Johnny Cash
If that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
[ steel ]
Mama sells eggs at a grocery store my oldest sister is a first-rate whore
Dad says she can't come home anymore and he means it
Ma just sits and keeps her silence
Sister she left cause dad got violent and he knows it
Mama she's old far beyond her time
From chopping tobacco and I've seen her cryin'
When blood started flowin' from her calloused hand and it hurt me
She'd just keep workin' tryin' to help the old man
To the end of one row and back again like always
She's been through hell since junior went to jail
When the lights go out she ain't never failed
To get down on her knees and pray because she loves him
Told all the neighbors he was off in the war
Fightin' for freedom he's good to the core and she's proud
Now our place was a graveyard for automobiles
At the end of the porch there was four stacks of wheels
And tires for sale for a dollar or two cash
There was fifty holes in an old tin roof
Me and my family we was livin' proof
The people who forgot about poor white trash
And if that ain't country I'll kiss your ass
If that ain't country...
I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes concerning the great speckled bird
I didn't know God made honky tonk angels and went back to the wild side of life