Ring of Fire The Musical movie - A Boy Named Sue lyrics

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Song by Johnny Cash<br /><br>

My daddy left home when I was three <br>

And he didn't leave much to ma and me <br>

Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. <br>

Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid <br>

But the meanest thing that he ever did <br>

Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue." <br>

<br>

Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke <br>

And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk, <br>

It seems I had to fight my whole life through. <br>

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red <br>

And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head, <br>

I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue." <br>

<br>

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, <br>

My fist got hard and my wits got keen, <br>

I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame. <br>

But I made a vow to the moon and stars <br>

That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars <br>

And kill that man who gave me that awful name. <br>

<br>

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July <br>

And I just hit town and my throat was dry, <br>

I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew. <br>

At an old saloon on a street of mud, <br>

There at a table, dealing stud, <br>

Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue." <br>

<br>

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad <br>

From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had, <br>

And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. <br>

He was big and bent and gray and old, <br>

And I looked at him and my blood ran cold <br>

And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do! <br>

Now your gonna die!!" <br>

<br>

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes <br>

And he went down, but to my surprise, <br>

He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. <br>

But I busted a chair right across his teeth <br>

And we crashed through the wall and into the street <br>

Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer. <br>

<br>

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men <br>

But I really can't remember when, <br>

He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. <br>

I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, <br>

He went for his gun and I pulled mine first, <br>

He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile. <br>

<br>

And he said: "Son, this world is rough <br>

And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough <br>

And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along. <br>

So I give ya that name and I said goodbye <br>

I knew you'd have to get tough or die <br>

And it's the name that helped to make you strong." <br>

<br>

He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight <br>

And I know you hate me, and you got the right <br>

To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do. <br>

But ya ought to thank me, before I die, <br>

For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye <br>

Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'" <br>

<br>

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun <br>

And I called him my pa, and he called me his son, <br>

And I came away with a different point of view. <br>

And I think about him, now and then, <br>

Every time I try and every time I win, <br>

And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him <br>

Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!<br>

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