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You Never Even Called Me By My Name Lyrics
Well, it was all
that I could do to keep from cryin'.
Sometimes, it seemed so useless to remain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even call me by my name.
You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings,
and you don't have to call me Charlie Pride,
and you don't have to call me Merle Haggard anymore
even though you're on my fightin' side.
And, I'll hang around as long as you will let me,
and I never minded standing in the rain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
you never even called me by my name.
Well, I've heard my name
a few times in your phone book (Hello, Hello),
and I've seen it on signs where I have played,
but the only time I know
I'll hear, "David Allen Coe,"
is when Jesus has his final judgement day.
And, I'll hang around as long as you will let me,
and I never minded standing in the rain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
you never even called me by my name.
Recitation:
Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song.
And, he told me it was the perfect Country & Western song
I wrote him back a letter, and I told him it was not the perfect Country & Western song, because he hadn't said anything at about mama,
or trains,
or trucks,
or prison,
or gettin' drunk.
Well, he sat down and wrote another verse to the song,
and he sent it to me,
and after reading it,
I realized that my friend had written the perfect Country & Western song.
And, I felt obliged to include it on this album.
The last verse goes like this here:
Well, i was drunk the day my mom got out of prison,
and I went to pick her up in the rain,
but before I could get to the station in my pickup truck,
she got runned over by a damned old train.
And, I'll hang around as long as you will let me.
And, I never minded standin' in the rain.
No, a' you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even call me...
Well, I wonder why you don't call me.
Why don't you ever call me by my name?
that I could do to keep from cryin'.
Sometimes, it seemed so useless to remain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even call me by my name.
and you don't have to call me Charlie Pride,
and you don't have to call me Merle Haggard anymore
even though you're on my fightin' side.
and I never minded standing in the rain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
you never even called me by my name.
a few times in your phone book (Hello, Hello),
and I've seen it on signs where I have played,
but the only time I know
I'll hear, "David Allen Coe,"
is when Jesus has his final judgement day.
and I never minded standing in the rain,
but you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
you never even called me by my name.
Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song.
And, he told me it was the perfect Country & Western song
I wrote him back a letter, and I told him it was not the perfect Country & Western song, because he hadn't said anything at about mama,
or trains,
or trucks,
or prison,
or gettin' drunk.
Well, he sat down and wrote another verse to the song,
and he sent it to me,
and after reading it,
I realized that my friend had written the perfect Country & Western song.
And, I felt obliged to include it on this album.
The last verse goes like this here:
and I went to pick her up in the rain,
but before I could get to the station in my pickup truck,
she got runned over by a damned old train.
And, I never minded standin' in the rain.
No, a' you don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even call me...
Well, I wonder why you don't call me.
Why don't you ever call me by my name?
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
It made me go seek out some more Steve Goodman tunes - he was a great writer.
Hell, I think it's a great song to sing when you're stone cold sober... you just couldn't get me to do it in public without a few drinks...
Truly the perfect country & western song.
THE best drinking song EVER!
heh, gotta love that verse...
"Well, i was drunk the day my mom got out of prison, and I went to pick her up in the rain, but before I could get to the station in my pickup truck, she got runned over by a damned old train. "
true country for ya, eh?
Man I despise country music, but I LOVE this song. Makes a great bar song, a song to sing when you're really drunk.
And yeah the last verse and chrous are awesome.
dang im listening to this DRINKING whiskey and by god this is great, makes me not think about the stuff i gotta worry about school, thanks! and i feel good
Probably one of the best country songs ever...
THE best C/W song EVER!!!
Seems like he fell for a women who treated him like crap, and she compared him to alot of other famous country stars. Or maybe in her eyes he could never live up to all the other country singers who were famous at the time, but he didn't care what or who she called him, as long as she called him. OR it could have a double meaning about the music industry itself. How he never achieved so called star-dom and greatness in the eyes of showbiz but he didn't mind it as long as he got to be a part of it and continued to do what he loves, even though he's not getting booked for the big shows and becoming a huge star. The "perfect country western song" about momma, trains, trucks, prison & getting drunk is a tongue in cheek poke at country music. He's written a very deep and meaningful song, wrapped in metaphore and emotions so he had to throw in some typical yet outlandish country subject matter to make it the perfect country and western song. Steve Goodman also helped Jimmy Buffett write some of his best music back in the day!
And yeah, you can't listen to this song without singing it to the top of your lungs and lifting your drink!!
@whiskeynelson Ive performed this one a lot (I guess that makes me a pseudo-expert), and honestly I was under the former impression you had as well. The song was written by Steve Goodman and John Prine as a jab at the music industry, your latter theory. However it has become a bit of a stab at low quality we women, of which I am extremely talented at getting mixed up with ????.
@whiskeynelson Ive performed this one a lot (I guess that makes me a pseudo-expert), and honestly I was under the former impression you had as well. The song was written by Steve Goodman and John Prine as a jab at the music industry, your latter theory. However it has become a bit of a stab at low quality we women, of which I am extremely talented at getting mixed up with ????.
The first time I did this song in the last 5 years I had just had a chick treat me like I was completely worthless then blatantly cheat on...
The first time I did this song in the last 5 years I had just had a chick treat me like I was completely worthless then blatantly cheat on me, which I guess I had coming seeing as how I knew her M.O. I'm not being self deprecating here, I know I chose a hussy.
The bar I was in was owned by her father's best friend. The band let me get on stage and sing it and well, I crushed it. He recorded it (while people danced and sang along). Felt so good I started squirreling away cash for a guitar. By the way, I fucked her sister once! ????
Steve Goodman wrote this song with John Prine, anthough Prine is uncredited. They both wanted to write a formula Country song and they discussion turned into this song. It's got it all including the references to other singers which are popular in Country music.
This is a drunken bar sing along for sure.