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."
Crazy Old Soldier
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And women come knock on my door
I've lived to the limit
Maybe a little bit more
There are so many stories
Of how I got out of control
Some say it's a woman
And some say, it's just my troubled soul
Fighting a war on my own
Just me and the whiskey
And the bottles are ten thousand strong
Why'd you think I'd give up?
As many times as I've been hit
But like a crazy old soldier
I just didn't know when to quit
Bar rooms and bed rooms
Just faces and places and names
One's for the pleasure
And lord knows, one's for the pain
I've tried to forget her
And all of the things that we've done
But as long as there's memories
I'll never hang up my guns
Like a crazy old soldier
Fighting a war on my own
Just me and the whiskey
And the bottles are ten thousand strong
Why you know you'd think I'd give it all up?
As many times as I've been hit
But like a crazy old soldier
I just don't know when to quit
Like some crazy old soldier
I never did know when to quit
The song "Crazy Old Soldier" by David Allan Coe is a heartbreaking ballad, evoking the emotions of a man who has lived his life on the wild side. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who has experienced all the pleasures that life has to offer, yet still finds himself trapped in his own self-destructive habits, unable to let go of his past.
The opening verse talks about how the singer has had it all – fame, fortune, and women. However, instead of being content with his achievements, he has always pushed himself to the limit and a little bit more. He has become so out of control that people talk about it behind his back. Some people think that his wild ways are due to his troubled soul, while others attribute it to a woman. Whatever the reason may be, the singer is fighting a war on his own, and the only companions he has are the bottles of whiskey that line his shelves.
The second verse goes on to explain that the singer has been to countless bar rooms and bed rooms, with faces, places, and names blurring together into one unending whirlwind of pleasure and pain. The singer has tried to forget the woman who may have caused his downfall, but he knows he never will. Like a crazy old soldier, he continues fighting a war that he knows he can never win. He doesn't know when to quit, and so he keeps going, never giving up despite the challenges that he faces.
Line by Line Meaning
Ive had fame and fortune
I have achieved fame and fortune in my life
And women come knock on my door
Many women have been attracted to me
I've lived to the limit
I have lived my life to the fullest
Maybe a little bit more
Perhaps even beyond what others could imagine
There are so many stories
Many people have different stories about my past
Of how I got out of control
Of how I lost control of my life
Some say it's a woman
Some blame women for my downfall
And some say, it's just my troubled soul
While others attribute it to my inner struggles
Like a crazy old soldier
I am like a soldier who has gone mad
Fighting a war on my own
Struggling with my personal battles alone
Just me and the whiskey
Only my trusty friend, whiskey is by my side
And the bottles are ten thousand strong
And I have consumed countless bottles of whiskey
Why'd you think I'd give up?
Do you really think I would ever give up?
As many times as I've been hit
Even with all the struggles and defeats I have faced
But like a crazy old soldier
Just like a soldier who has lost his mind
I just didn't know when to quit
I simply could not give up
Bar rooms and bed rooms
I have spent much of my time in bars and bedrooms
Just faces and places and names
With different people and places, all forgotten now
One's for the pleasure
Some were for pleasure
And lord knows, one's for the pain
And some were for the unbearable pain
I've tried to forget her
I've tried to forget the woman who caused me pain
And all of the things that we've done
And all the things we did together
But as long as there's memories
As long as memories remain
I'll never hang up my guns
I'll never give up the fight
Like a crazy old soldier
I am like a soldier who has lost his mind
Fighting a war on my own
Struggling with my personal battles alone
Just me and the whiskey
Only my trusty friend, whiskey is by my side
And the bottles are ten thousand strong
And I have consumed countless bottles of whiskey
Why you know you'd think I'd give it all up?
You might wonder why I wouldn't give it all up
As many times as I've been hit
Even with all the struggles and defeats I have faced
But like a crazy old soldier
Just like a soldier who has lost his mind
I just don't know when to quit
I just cannot give up
Like some crazy old soldier
Like a soldier who has lost his mind
I never did know when to quit
I could never find it within me to give up
Writer(s): Paul Hardy Kennerley, Troy Harold Seals
Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@grizzlyadamsmith6038
JUST LOVE THIS GUY...LISTENED FOR YEARS,,,
@grizzlyadamsmith6038
USED TO SING THIS ONE A LOT,....BUT NOT RECENTLY,...RETIRED AND HUNG UP MY OLD AXE,....!!!
@billyhall9923
this song is where I got my e-mail name but crazy old airman since I'm retired Air Force. thank you DAC!!
@michaeldicks5898
We're the Air Force involved in ground combat in Vietnam?
@elseMa5194
Terrific singer, great song 🎸🎼
@danielcatoe3901
To all you anerican vets out there thanks, if you ever feel depressed remember what you did for America.
@TBWAY999
This is one of my favorite DAC songs...just heard Johnny Cash and Raay Charles sing it but it aint the same...Thanx for postin friend
@ronpearson575
DAMN IF I CAN N UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MAN OF TRUE OUTLAW COUNTRY NEEDS AND DESERVE 'S A HELLUVA ALOT MORE RECOGNITION !!! BEEN A DAC FAN 43yrs
@josephwhelan192
To all American Veterans, dead or alive, still with us or , lost inside yourselves. Thank you for what you did, and my way of life! I never fought any wars except the one with myself but I have always known our soldiers protect the way I live and my way of life. Thank you. USA 🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
@jerryyoung6270
Love ya david