Daddy Was a God Fearin
David Allan Coe Lyrics

Used to go with my grandpa up to the town square
I used to accompany my grandpa to the town square.

Set him down up there on a picnic bench
I would help him sit on a picnic bench.

And he used to play checkers with them other old menup there
He would play chess with other old men.

They used to tell stories bout when they were kids
They used to tell stories about their childhood.

Grandpa says he shot the Chief of Police when he was nine years old
My grandpa claims he shot the Chief of Police at the age of nine.

I believe it
I give credence to his claim.

Cause they tell me Harlan Knetucky was the baddest place in the world
It is said that Harlan Kentucky was the most dangerous place to live.

Why they say they used to sit out there on their front porch
They used to sit on their front porch.

Shoot them revenuers when they'd come down the hollow
When the revenuers would come, they would shoot at them.

Said they was so young took two of them boys
They claimed that they were so young that it took two boys to hold the rifle.

To hold the rifle and one to pull the trigger
One boy would hold the rifle and the other would pull the trigger.

Well grandpa he'd lie a little bit
My grandpa would sometimes tell white lies.

But I'll tell you there's a lot of stories in Harlan County
However, there is a great deal of storytelling in Harlan County.

Yeah folks in Harlan County Lord they knew that we were poor
The people in Harlan County were aware that we were poor.

They always called my daddy Preacher Dan
My father was always referred to as Preacher Dan.

But daddy weren't no preacher least ways I don't recallect
However, my father was not a preacher, or at least I don't remember him being one.

Never hear of papa talk of nothin' but the land
I never heard my father talk about anything but the land.

Daddy was a God fearin' farmer yes he was
My father was a God-fearing farmer.

Could not read nor write Lord he could barely sign his name
My father was illiterate and could barely write his name.

Daddy was a God fearin' farmer all his life someday when I'm grown I'll be the same
My father was a God-fearing farmer his entire life, and I aspire to be the same someday.

Well he always grew tobacco though he did not smoke himself
My father grew tobacco, but he did not smoke himself.

He had the best tobacco crop around
My father had the best tobacco crop in the area.

And he never touched a drop of liquor that I can recall
As far as I can remember, my father never drank alcohol.

Papa made his livin' on the ground
My father earned a living from farming the land.

Yes Sunday go to meetin' called for more than he could stand
Going to Sunday service was more than my father could handle.

I guess he felt at home in his old clothes
My father felt comfortable in his old clothes.

But he never missed a Sunday takin' mama to the church
Despite the difficulty, my father always made sure to take my mother to church on Sundays.

Maybe it was habit Lord but heaven only knows
Perhaps it was habit, but only heaven knows for sure.

Daddy was a God fearin' farmer...
My father was a God-fearing farmer.

[ steel - fiddle ]
Musical interlude.

Someday when I'm grown I'll be the same someday when I'm grown I'll be the same
I hope to be the same kind of person as my father when I am grown.