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."
Cry! Cry! Cry!
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Totally drained
On the verge of going crazy
On the edge of insane
I know you'd prayed I'd make it
But I never pulled through
I gave up on going on girl
Just like I gave up on you
But don't you cry darlin'
Though it's a cryin' shame
I was hooked on that whisky so bad
I didn't know my name when I died
Don't cry darlin'
You know it's not you're fault
I was stealin' time from the devil and I
Just got caught
You know Hon
David left you so long ago
He didn't want to darlin'
Aw but his dying words told you so
But that strong stuff
Aww it was always his weakness
But hell any man can be a fool
And I know that he was so ashamed and sorry
For all those bad things that he did to you
But don't you cry darlin'
Though it's a cryin' shame
I was hooked on that whisky so bad
I didn't know my name when I died
Don't cry darlin'
Well it's not you're fault
I was stealin' time from the devil and I
Just got caught
Don't you cry darlin'
Though it's a cryin' shame
I was hooked on that bottle so bad
I didn't know my name when I died
Don't cry darlin'
In David Allan Coe's song "Don," the singer is speaking from beyond the grave to his long lost love. He expresses his regret for the choices he made and how he ended up where he is now. He is drunk and drained, on the edge of sanity, but knows that his love had hoped he would make it through. However, he gave up on himself just as he had given up on her. He goes on to tell her that his addiction to whiskey led to his downfall and that it was not her fault. He apologizes for leaving her so long ago, but states that his addiction was always his weakness. In the end, he knows he was caught stealing time from the devil and that his drinking was the cause of his demise.
The song "Don" is a classic country ballad that speaks to the human condition. It explores the themes of addiction, regret, and lost love. It is a song that tugs at the heartstrings of the listener and reminds us all to live our lives with purpose and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to our downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
Drunk
Intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol
Totally drained
Completely exhausted and lacking any energy
On the verge of going crazy
Extremely mentally distressed and close to losing control
On the edge of insane
Extremely close to losing one's grip on reality and becoming insane
I know you'd prayed I'd make it
You had hoped for me to recover and get better
But I never pulled through
But unfortunately, I was never able to overcome my addiction
I gave up on going on girl
I lost hope for recovery and gave up on trying to keep going
Just like I gave up on you
I also gave up on our relationship and let it fall apart
But don't you cry darlin'
But please don't cry my dear
Though it's a cryin' shame
Though it is a sad and unfortunate situation
I was hooked on that whisky so bad
I was severely addicted to alcohol, specifically whiskey
I didn't know my name when I died
I was so heavily intoxicated that I lost touch with my own identity
You know it's not you're fault
Please understand that I was responsible for my own actions and choices, it was not your fault
I was stealin' time from the devil and I
I was engaging in reckless behavior and living dangerously
Just got caught
Unfortunately, I was not able to continue this way of life without negative consequences
David left you so long ago
David (the song's narrator) abandoned the relationship a long time ago
He didn't want to darlin'
David did not have the desire or ability to continue the relationship
Aw but his dying words told you so
But in the end, David's final words confirmed this reality for you
But that strong stuff
Alcohol, specifically whiskey
Aww it was always his weakness
It was David's Achilles heel and something he struggled with for a long time
But hell any man can be a fool
But any human being is capable of making mistakes and acting foolishly
And I know that he was so ashamed and sorry
David felt deep remorse and regret for his actions and behavior
For all those bad things that he did to you
For all of the harm and hurt that David caused in the relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dean Dillon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kdn3249
What a sad song. But it sounds like a cautionary tale for a lot of people (including some I have known!) Thanks for sharing it with us, Dodybelle!!!
Rob musso
no country has soul and the ability to fall into the song like the classics
Nicholas Eads
Takes me back to riding in the truck with my papaw, what a great song
buster boothbee
I love this song
DRAKO MILANO BEON DERAKA
My dad is a alcoholic an sometimes I don't understand him cause he so far gone I wish he would change
SeaFoamGuy 94
Awful close to home for me. Hope Mr. Coe never endured this
Larry Cox
Sadly I've lived this