Coe's rebellious attitude, wild image, and unconventional lifestyle set him apart from other country performers, both winning him legions of fans and hindering his mainstream success by alienating the music industry establishment. Coe continues to be a popular performer on the country circuit.
Coe was born in Akron, Ohio. His favorite singer as a child was Johnny Cash. After being sent to the Starr Commonwealth For Boys reform school at the age of nine, he spent much of the next 20 years in correctional facilities, including three years at the Ohio Penitentiary. Coe claimed he received encouragement to begin writing songs from Screamin' Jay Hawkins, with whom he had spent time in prison.
After concluding another prison term in 1967, Coe embarked on a music career in Nashville, living in a hearse which he parked in front of the Ryman Auditorium while he performed on the street. He caught the attention of Shelby Singleton, owner of the independent record label Plantation Records and signed a contract with his label.
He is the father of Tyler Mahan Coe, who created the country music podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones. He has a daughter, Shelli Coe Mackie, and is father-in-law to the late Michael Mackie, formerly of Texas band 'Thunderosa'.
Coe's musical style derives from blues, rock, and country music traditions. His vocal style is described as a 'throaty baritone'. His lyrical content is often humorous or comedic, with William Ruhlmann describing him as a 'near-parody of a country singer'. Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes Coe as "a great, unashamed country singer, singing the purest honky-tonk and hardest country of his era […] he may not be the most original outlaw, but there is none more outlaw than him".
Coe's lyrics frequently include references to alcohol and drug use, and are often boisterous and cocky. Coe's debut album Penitentiary Blues was described as "voodoo blues" and "redneck music" by Allmusic's Thom Jurek. It focused on themes such as working for the first time, blood tests from veins used to inject heroin, prison time, hoodoo imagery, and death. The album's influences included Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Tony Joe White. Coe later explained to Kristofer Engelhardt of Review: "I didn't really care for some of the country music until people like Kris Kristofferson and some of those people started writing songs. They had a little more to say than just, 'Oh baby I miss you', or whatever. I don't do anything halfway. Once I got into country music, I went back and researched it, and learned everything there was to know about it. I could do impersonations of Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Marty Robbins, just about anybody. I knew just about all there was to know about country music."
Coe's first country album, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, has been described as alt-country, 'pre-punk' and "a hillbilly version of Marc Bolan's glitz and glitter". Credited influences on the album include Merle Haggard. In his early career, Coe was known for his unpredictable live performances, in which he would ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the stage and curse at his audience. Coe has also performed in a rhinestone suit and a mask which resembled that of the Lone Ranger, calling himself the 'Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy'.
The album Rebel Meets Rebel featured a song, "Cherokee Cry", which criticizes the United States government's treatment of Native Americans. When asked why he did not write more political songs, Coe replied, "I live in my own world, not thee world. I just write songs about what affects me in everyday life. At one point I wrote a song that was sort of a protest about when they were talking about drafting women into the military. It was about my son making it past the draft, but my daughter didn't. And I've done Farm Aid."
In his review of Coe's 1987 album A Matter of Life...and Death, Allmusic's Thom Jurek wrote, "Coe may have had some hits, but it is records like this that make one wonder if there was not a conspiracy to marginalize him and make him fail. Coe is a brilliant songwriter well into the 21st century, and deserves to be lauded along with the likes of [Willie] Nelson and [Waylon] Jennings and Kristofferson and Newbury – and even Cash."
A Harley Someday
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Honda is all he could buy
He covers it up on his car port,
If anyone saw it he'd die.
He acts just as tough as his buddies
They drink Harley Davidson beer.
And he tells anyone that will listen,
He's buying a panh (Dsus2) ead next year.
(chorus)
And we all laugh and think it's so funny,
Especially when we hear him say,
"Right now I'm just learning to ride,man
Oh but I'll have a Harley some day." (last ch.--- yeah but I'll
Have a Harley someday)
He don't take his bike to Daytona,
But he carries his helmet along.
And the Ironhorse Saloon shirt he's wearing,
Say's bike week 1981.
He's a bona fide wanna be tough guy.
With long hair and chains on his boots.
He works 9 to 5 Monday through Friday
In loafers and Ivy League suits.
(chorus)
And he's thinking of getting a tattoo,
And maybe an earring or two.
As much as we hate to admit it,
We all know what he's going through.
We say he's a true weekend warrior,
He's wearing his old Harley hat.
And the truth is it's hard to remember,
That we all started out just like that.
(chorus)
The song A Harley Someday by David Allan Coe tells the story of a man who dreams of owning a Harley motorcycle someday. However, due to the high cost, he settles for a Honda motorcycle and keeps it hidden in his carport to avoid being seen. He tries to act tough like his friends who own Harley Davidson motorcycles, and he even drinks Harley Davidson beer. He tells anyone who will listen that he plans to buy a Panhead next year. Despite his Honda motorcycle and lack of experience riding, he claims he is just learning to ride and that he will own a Harley someday.
The song underscores the idea that many people aspire to own a Harley Davidson motorcycle, not only for the vehicle itself but also for the associated lifestyle and image. The lyrics also poke fun at those who pretend to be part of the Harley culture without actually owning one. This song is relatable to many people who have had dreams and aspirations that were out of reach due to financial constraints or other circumstances outside of their control. The song is also a commentary on the social pressures of fitting in with a particular crowd and how people sometimes try to portray a certain image to belong.
Line by Line Meaning
Those Harley's they cost so much money
Harleys are very expensive.
A Honda is all he could buy
The person could only afford a Honda motorcycle instead of a Harley.
He covers it up on his car port,
He tries to hide his Honda motorcycle from other people.
If anyone saw it he'd die.
He would be embarrassed if anyone saw his Honda instead of a Harley.
He acts just as tough as his buddies
He tries to act as tough and cool as his friends who have Harleys.
They drink Harley Davidson beer.
His friends drink a type of beer that is associated with Harley Davidson motorcycles.
And he tells anyone that will listen,
He talks to anyone who will listen to him about his desire to get a Harley.
He's buying a panh (Dsus2) ead next year.
He plans to buy a Panhead Harley motorcycle in the future.
And we all laugh and think it's so funny,
His friends find his desire for a Harley amusing.
Especially when we hear him say,
They find it funny when he talks about getting a Harley all the time.
"Right now I'm just learning to ride,man
He is currently learning how to ride his Honda motorcycle.
Oh but I'll have a Harley some day."
Even though he has a Honda now, he is determined to get a Harley in the future.
But he carries his helmet along.
He brings his helmet with him to places where other bikers go, even if he doesn't ride his Honda motorcycle there.
Say's bike week 1981.
He wears a shirt from a bike week event from 1981, showing his interest and enthusiasm for motorcycles.
He's a bona fide wanna be tough guy.
He tries to be a tough person, but is not really one.
With long hair and chains on his boots.
He has long hair and wears chains on his boots to fit in with the biker image.
He works 9 to 5 Monday through Friday
He has a regular job and works Monday to Friday like most people.
In loafers and Ivy League suits.
He dresses professionally for his job and wears Ivy League-style clothing.
And he's thinking of getting a tattoo,
He is considering getting a tattoo, which is a common trend among bikers.
And maybe an earring or two.
He is also thinking of getting an earring to further fit into the biker image.
As much as we hate to admit it,
His friends are reluctant to admit that they were once like him too.
We all know what he's going through.
His friends all went through the same phase of wanting a Harley and trying to fit in with the biker crowd.
We say he's a true weekend warrior,
His friends call him a 'weekend warrior', someone who is only tough on weekends when they ride their bikes.
He's wearing his old Harley hat.
He owns a hat with the Harley Davidson logo on it.
And the truth is it's hard to remember,
It's hard for his friends to remember that they once acted in the same way as he does now.
That we all started out just like that.
His friends all started out wanting a Harley and trying to fit into the biker culture just like he is doing now.
Contributed by Eva A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Streetbob-si8yj
My 14 year old daughter wants a Harley. I'm going to get her one for her 16th birthday. She's always asking me to take her for rides. I'm so proud of her. 😁👍
@tikimann9300
You should be proud !
@TheBrooklynbodine
My most sincere congratulations! I wish your daughter every happiness!
@Fausto_4841
it's been two years, has she gotten her harley yet?
@magnehoiberg
David Allan Coe, a true biker, in every way. WE ALL STARTED OUT LIKE THAT.
@trenthitchcock4194
Not me I started with a sportster lol but definitely wore the harley brands before I had it, built my sporty from the frame up (rigid frame) not to bad for a first I think
@danielleluhrs7858
Hey me too 883
@trenthitchcock4194
@@danielleluhrs7858 mine was bored out to 1200 I bought it for $1700 Canadian wich is extremely cheap where I'm from (it was a basket case) and I hardtailed the frame with a 2 inch stretch, put a 1974 midglide front end on it with 21 inch wire spoke front wheel, 3.3 gallon mustang tank, rounded trailer fender on the back and a springer solo sear
@trenthitchcock4194
@@danielleluhrs7858 I still own it actually I only bought it a year ago at the age of 20
@danielleluhrs7858
That's cool man, I def spent way too much for mine then lol I only got it a few months ago, it's the xl883 custom so I got the spoke rim on the front. I haven't done anything to it yet but I'll keep her as long as I can whenever the top end tires out hopefully I can put the 1200 kit in her