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."
Another Pretty Country Song
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These boots came all the way from Mexico
This Cadillac ain't nothin' son you ought to see the Greyhound
I bought to take my band from show to show
Seen my face a thousand times on TV and heard me on your local radio
And in your eyes I see the admiration there for me
But son there's something that you ought to know
Motel rooms ain't nothing like a home
Money can't make love grow any stronger when you leave your woman home alone
She can't raise the children with no daddy
She can't love a man that's always gone
It takes a whole lot more than pride to keep your feelings locked inside
While you sing another pretty country song
(Play it Pete Drake)
[ steel ]
(I've seen your face a thousand times on TV I've heard you on my local radio)
It's true I took some pills to stay awake son
And this diamond ring I wear is just for show
I've got a little cabin in the country
When I'm not on the road that's where I go
Try and put my feelings down on paper
Right or wrong the show has to go on
I can cry down deep inside and keep on smilin'
While I sing another pretty country song
But I've got to take a drink to keep from shakin'
In David Allan Coe's song Another Pretty Country Song, the lyrics talk about the realities of life as a country star. On the surface, it may seem like the life of a famous musician is full of glitz and glamour, with flashy clothing, expensive cars, and adoring fans. However, the lyrics reveal that this is just a façade. The singer has bought a rhinestone suit in California, boots from Mexico, and a Cadillac, but these are just material things. Behind the scenes, he has to take pills to stay awake and drinks to calm his nerves. Motel rooms are not home, and money can't make up for the absence of loved ones. The singer has a wife and children at home, but he is constantly on the road, leaving her alone to raise the children and without the love and companionship of her husband. Despite this, the singer keeps putting on a brave face, continuing to smile and sing another pretty country song.
The song is an honest reflection of the challenges faced by country musicians. It depicts the pressures of life on the road, the sacrifices that must be made, and the toll that this lifestyle can take on personal relationships. The lyrics are touching and poignant, revealing the human side of a profession that is often full of glitz and glamour.
Line by Line Meaning
I bought this rhinestone suit in California
I purchased this flashy suit in California for the purpose of my performances.
These boots came all the way from Mexico
My boots are an imported pair from Mexico, perhaps to show off my style.
This Cadillac ain't nothin' son you ought to see the Greyhound
Even though I appear to ride in style, my touring vehicle is actually a Greyhound bus.
I bought to take my band from show to show
I purchased the bus to transport my band for our consecutive gigs.
Seen my face a thousand times on TV and heard me on your local radio
I've been on TV and your local radio frequently, and you've likely seen and heard me countless times.
And in your eyes I see the admiration there for me
I can tell that you look up to me and idolize me based on the look in your eyes.
But son there's something that you ought to know
However, son, there is something important you need to be aware of.
Well I've got to take a drink to keep from shakin'
I need to drink before going on stage to calm my nerves and prevent shaking or trembling.
Motel rooms ain't nothing like a home
Being on the road and staying in motel rooms cannot replace the feeling of being at home.
Money can't make love grow any stronger when you leave your woman home alone
No amount of money or success can make up for leaving your loved ones behind and neglecting your relationships.
She can't raise the children with no daddy
Your children need a father figure present in their lives in order for them to grow up and thrive.
She can't love a man that's always gone
It's difficult for your partner to maintain their love for you if you're constantly away from home and they don't have the opportunity to spend time with you.
It takes a whole lot more than pride to keep your feelings locked inside
Suppressing your feelings and emotions requires much more than just pride or determination.
While you sing another pretty country song
As I perform yet another lovely country tune, I can't ignore the weight of my suppressed emotions and struggles.
It's true I took some pills to stay awake son
I have taken pills to stay alert and awake while on the road, which may not have been entirely healthy.
And this diamond ring I wear is just for show
This diamond ring I wear is purely a display of wealth and status, and is not necessarily reflective of my true character or personality.
I've got a little cabin in the country
I own a small cottage in the countryside where I can relax when not on tour.
When I'm not on the road that's where I go
During my off time, you can find me at my cabin in the countryside.
Try and put my feelings down on paper
I attempt to express and document my emotional struggles through songwriting and poetry.
Right or wrong the show has to go on
Regardless of the circumstances, the performance must always continue.
I can cry down deep inside and keep on smilin'
I may be hiding my true emotions deep down, but I continue to put on a happy face and keep performing.
While I sing another pretty country song
All the while, I must continue to play and sing lovely country music even if I am struggling internally.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE, ORIS RONALD CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dr. Craphead
on Damn I Wish I Was a Nigger
The song is not by David Allan Coe
Niggerhatingme
on Nigger Hatin Me
I like sugar and I like tea
But I don't like niggers, no sir-e
There are two lone things that'll make me puke
That's a hog eating slop and a big black spook
You know it, 'cuz I show it
Like a barnyard rooster I crow it
And the NAACP would sure like to get
A hold of nigger hatin' me.
Roses are red and violets are blue
Niggers are black and you know that's true
But they don't mind 'cuz what the heck
You gotta' be black to get a welfare check.
.And I'm broke, no joke. I ain't got a nickle
For a coat and I ain't black you see, so Uncle
Sam won't help poor nigger hatin' me.
Jigga-boo Jigga-boo where are you? I was
Here on the woodpile watching you. Jigga-boo
Jigga-boo come outdoors. No! I'sa scared of the
White man way down south.
You know it, 'cuz I show it. Stick your black
Head out and I blow it and the NAACP can't keep
You away from 'lil 'ol nigger hatin' me.
Mirror mirror on the wall who is the blackest
Of them all? A man named King it ain't no doubt
And he's causin' lots of trouble with his baboon
Mouth. Oh no it's he's a done it, caused by the
Trouble he's a brewin' and the NAACP can't win if
The white man stick with nigger hatin' me.
Hey Mr. President what'd ya say? When are we
Whites gonna have our day? The niggers've had
Theirs for such a long long time. I'm a white
And it's time that I had mine.
You know it, 'cuz I show it. Stick your black head
Out and I blow it and the NAACP can't win if the
White man stick with nigger hatin' me.
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
All true, how's the death count in chimpcago? https://heyjackass.com/
Ben - Moderator
on Nigger hatin me
Meaning of this line above has now been corrected
Matt
on Nigger hatin me
Who ever did the meaning lines is funny... woodpile is a real term, and when it says jig aboo come out doors, he imitates a poor sounding guy saying he's afraid of the racist whites from the south cuz if they even show themselves in public, they were a target. This is a bad song about the unspoken truth
cemegonuts
on You piss me off...you fuckin' jerk
This is not David Allen Coe. It is a song written by Gaye Delorme and performed by Garry Lee and Showdown.
Teresa Warnke
on Pick Em, Lick Em, Stick Em
Are there any decent constitutional lawyers in the house?
Mr. Coe has been barred from performing in most public forums.
He is one the last surviving Outlaws of country music. Although, Nigger Fucker has racist theme, Mr. Coe was defended by his life long friend, Charlie Pride, who inspired the song, all of his days. They were close friends until the end.
David Allen COE is elderly and we don't have long to have an opportunity to see him perform. What is more is that he deserves to use his constitutional right to free speech.
Some would like to have this song and many more that feel are offensive removed from existence. I am not a racist and recognize the foulness of the song, but, I am mature enough to turn off music or any other media that I don't like.
Personally, the Brian Adam's song, "Rum to You", makes me sick, as does Reba Macy tyre's, "Fancy" and "Whoever's in New England".
Ms. Macy tires songs if a mother pimping out her daughter and an abandoned housewife faithfully waiting for her man to return from fucking his mistress hurts women. The Brian Adam's song also hurts women. I do not for a minute believe that this music should never be heard again. It does provide opportunity to discuss these things with younger people.
I am going to delete my YouTube music account because they removed DAC for it's content. I did have much respect for YouTube for it's American spirit and patriotism even though the way they pay their talent is nonsensical. One deletion is a demonstration of what will follow. Eventually this could lead to less freedoms for all of us.
Please don't fall into the currant popular victim trend. Turn off music you don't like and get on with your day.
Or stand up to censorship of the arts.
Thank You,
Teresa Warnke
Rodan
on Cum Stains on the Pillow
Dribble it on her nose!
11inthemoney
on Itty Bitty Titty
Young sex is the best
11inthemoney
on Itty Bitty Titty
Shucks it's cool.
Rodan
on Cum Stains on the Pillow
Another AWESOME DAC song that makes me bellylaugh!!!