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."
Divers Do It Deeper
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And LA seemed the most likely place I could be
Those Malibu nights and those Hollywood lights
Were blinding me
I longed for a lover to help me discover
The key that would unlock love's door
While diving the reefs
Lord, she changed my beliefs
And she whispered
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Bricklayers always make it just a little bit stronger (stronger)
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
But cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
I moved from LA for a good job with pay
Riding range for the Double Bar Jay
Till the rodeo came and I put in my name
For the bull riding contest that day
The judges were watching
But they never noticed
The girl standing close to my chute
She'd picked me to win
I could tell by her grin
As she reached out and platted my boot
And she said
Divers do it deeper
Pilots do it higher
Bricklayers always make it just a little bit stronger (stronger)
Doctors do it cleaner
Bikers do it meaner
Cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Bricklayers always make it just a little bit stronger (stronger)
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
But cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
Hey, ma!
The lyrics to David Allan Coe's "Divers Do It Deeper" speak of the singer's desire for love and his experiences in different settings. The song's opening lines refer to the singer's physical location as he longs for a lover to help him "discover the key that would unlock love's door." As he dives through the reefs, he finds that the woman he meets helps him to "change [his] beliefs," culminating in an act of love on the ocean floor. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Divers do it deeper," and then goes on to include other professions and how they perform sexually, ending each verse with the assertion that "cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer."
The song's lyrics seem to be a commentary on the different manifestations of sexuality as reflected by various professions. While diving and the ocean setting appears to be a particularly meaningful experience for the singer, the chorus suggests that each profession carries its own unique way of expressing sexual desire or prowess. The repetition of the phrase "cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer" could speak to a sense of pride in the cowboy lifestyle and sexuality, as well as a larger cultural mythos surrounding the idea of the cowboy's stamina and endurance.
Overall, "Divers Do It Deeper" is a playful yet poignant exploration of the diverse forms that sexuality can take in different settings and professions.
Line by Line Meaning
It was too cold to stay in the north
The cold weather made me want to leave the north and move to a warmer place.
And LA seemed the most likely place I could be
I chose to move to Los Angeles as it seemed like a good fit for me.
Those Malibu nights and those Hollywood lights
The beauty and glamour of Malibu and Hollywood was mesmerizing.
Were blinding me
I was overwhelmed by the glitz and glamour of the city.
I longed for a lover to help me discover
I desired a companion who would help me explore and discover new things about myself.
The key that would unlock love's door
I was searching for love and companionship that would fulfill my desires.
While diving the reefs
During my diving adventures in the reefs.
Lord, she changed my beliefs
She had a significant impact on my beliefs and way of thinking.
As we made love on the ocean's floor
We had an intimate and passionate encounter while diving underwater.
And she whispered
She spoke softly and intimately to me.
Divers do it deeper
Divers explore and experience love more deeply and intimately.
Jockeys do it shorter
Jockeys have brief, fleeting encounters.
Bricklayers always make it just a little bit stronger (stronger)
Bricklayers put extra effort into making their relationships strong and long-lasting.
Sailors do it wetter
Sailors have adventures and experiences that involve water and the sea.
Soldiers do it better
Soldiers are skilled and experienced in intimate encounters.
But cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
Cowboys have the stamina and perseverance to maintain intimate relationships for longer periods.
I moved from LA for a good job with pay
I left Los Angeles to pursue a well-paying job.
Riding range for the Double Bar Jay
I began working for the Double Bar Jay ranch, herding cattle.
Till the rodeo came and I put in my name
I competed in the rodeo by entering my name.
For the bull riding contest that day
Specifically, I chose to compete in bull riding on that day.
The judges were watching
The competition was being carefully observed and evaluated by the judges.
But they never noticed
However, they failed to notice something important about my competition experience.
The girl standing close to my chute
A girl was watching me from nearby.
She'd picked me to win
The girl had confidence in my ability to win the competition.
I could tell by her grin
I could see from her expression that she was pleased with how I was performing.
As she reached out and platted my boot
She began braiding my boot, a sign of affection and admiration.
And she said
She spoke to me affectionately and meaningfully.
Pilots do it higher
Pilots seek experiences at higher elevations, giving them unique perspectives and ways of experiencing love.
Doctors do it cleaner
Doctors maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle, which affects the way they approach intimate relationships.
Bikers do it meaner
Bikers have a tough exterior and have intense intimate experiences.
Hey, ma!
An exclamation, likely directed at the listener's mother.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dustyboots2693
It was too cold to stay
In the north and la
Seemed the most likely place i could stay
Those malibu nights
And those hollywood lights
Were blinding me
I long for a lover
To help me discover
The key to unlock love's door
While diving the reef's for
She changed my beliefs
As we made love on the ocean's floor
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Brick layers always make just a little bit stronger
Stronger
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
But cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
I moved from la
For a good job with pay
Riding range for the double bar j
Till' the rodeo came
And i put in my name
For the bull riding contest that day
The judges were watching
But they never noticed the girl
Standing close to my chute
She picked me to win
I could tell by her grin
As she reached out
And patted my boot
Divers do it deeper
Pilots do it higher
Brick layers always make it just a little bit stronger
Doctors do it cleaner
Bikers do it meaner
Cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Brick layers always make it just a little bit stronger
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
Cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
@liammusgrove6334
@Taylor Rhodes All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watchin' the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view but it's not sane
It's not sane
I just want someone to say to me, oh
I'll always be there when you wake, yeah
You know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made
And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that there's no rain
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
And it rips my life away but it's a great escape
Escape, escape, escape
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
You don't like my point of view, you think that I'm insane
It's not sane, it's not sane
I just want someone to say to me, oh
I'll always be there when you wake, yeah
You know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made, I'll have it made, I'll have it made
Oh, no, no, you know, I really wanna, really gonna have it made
You know, I'll have it made
@dustyboots2693
It was too cold to stay
In the north and la
Seemed the most likely place i could stay
Those malibu nights
And those hollywood lights
Were blinding me
I long for a lover
To help me discover
The key to unlock love's door
While diving the reef's for
She changed my beliefs
As we made love on the ocean's floor
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Brick layers always make just a little bit stronger
Stronger
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
But cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
I moved from la
For a good job with pay
Riding range for the double bar j
Till' the rodeo came
And i put in my name
For the bull riding contest that day
The judges were watching
But they never noticed the girl
Standing close to my chute
She picked me to win
I could tell by her grin
As she reached out
And patted my boot
Divers do it deeper
Pilots do it higher
Brick layers always make it just a little bit stronger
Doctors do it cleaner
Bikers do it meaner
Cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
Divers do it deeper
Jockeys do it shorter
Brick layers always make it just a little bit stronger
Sailors do it wetter
Soldiers do it better
Cowboys stay in the saddle just a little bit longer
@charleshighfield218
You did a bad job.
@dustyboots2693
@Charles Highfield I only copy-pasted from Google, just to sing along. But thanks to keeping the comment up 😁
@vickygonser1
Thank you for the lyrics! My parents played this when I was a kid and I loved it. Had no idea the ummm....suggestiveness back then!
@djarls
This is shit
@iraspencer7879
As a bricklayer of 20+ years I approve this song
@MuddyBubby
Did you make it to 21 years yet? Shit just realized it said plus, God bless.
@anthonybeesley1697
Old school days... good times
@mike1962walsh44
Great Song!
@straytarnish9443
David Allen Coe ROCKS!