A Boy Named Sue
Johnny Cash (lyrics by Shel Silverstein)
Note: Johnny Cash’s loose delivery in the At San Quentin recording meant that his band didn’t always know when to start a new chord progression. Rather than try to re-create every quirk from that still-fantastic performance, I’ve charted the song the way I imagine it was intended to be played. Deviate as you see fit.
Capo 4
Each chord is played for two measures unless otherwise noted.
| Chord Guide | |||
|
3 4 G: 3x0003 |
32 1
C: x32010 |
132
D: xx0232 |
|
|
B D U B D U w/alternating
bass
Strum: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
Intro: / G - - - / - - - - / - - - - / - - - - /
G
My daddy left home when I was three
C
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
D
G
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
G
Now, I don't blame him ‘cause he run and hid
C
But the meanest thing that he ever did
D
G
Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."
G
Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
C
And it got a lot of laughs from a-lots of folk,
D
G
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
G
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
C
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
D
G
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue."
G
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
C
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
D G
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
G
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
C
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
D
G
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.
G
Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
C
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
D
G
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
G
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
C
There at a table, dealing stud,
D
G
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."
G
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
C
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
D
G
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
G
He was big and bent and gray and old,
C
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
D
G (4)
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do! Now you’re gonna die!!"
G
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
C
And he went down, but to my surprise,
D
G
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
G
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
C
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
D
G
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.
G
I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
C
But I really can't remember when,
D
G
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
G
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, and
C
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
D
G
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.
G
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
C
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
D
G
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
G
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
C
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
D
G
And it's the name that helped to make you strong."
G
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
C
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
D
G
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
G
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
C
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
D
G
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"
G
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
C
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
D
G
And I came away with a different point of view.
G
And I think about him, now and then,
C
Every time I try and every time I win,
D (hold)
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
G (hold)
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!