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."
Fish Aren
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn this ship around boys, before we run aground
The fish aren't biting today boys, fish aren't biting today
I'm gonna lay on my bunk and get drunk as a skunk
?Cause the fish aren't biting today
There's six foot waves and my stomach craves
Some good old Antiguan rum
And the rain she's starting to come now
There's a northern wind and the lights are dim
Like a good fresh Cuban cigar
I got me a hutch where there might be a bunch
In the Captions pickle jar, so
let's take it easy boys, take it easy boys
We're gonna have to wait till another day
The fish aren't biting today boys, fish aren't biting today
I'm gonna lay on my bunk and get drunk as a skunk
?Cause the fish aren't biting today
In this song, David Allan Coe sings about a fishing trip that is not going as planned. He begins the song by telling the crew to take down the jib sail and turn the ship around before they run aground. He explains that the fish aren't biting today, so there's no point in continuing to sail. The disappointment in the lack of fish has led Coe to want to drink and lay on his bunk.
The second verse describes the rough conditions of the ocean with six foot waves, while Coe's stomach craves some good Antiguan rum. He reveals that he had saved the rum for a rainy day, and now is the time to drink it. Coe continues to describe the weather, including the northern wind and dim lights on the ship. He also gives a nod to Cuba with a reference to a good fresh Cuban cigar. Finally, he mentions that there might be a stash of alcohol in the Captains' pickle jar, but the crew shouldn't worry about it today since the fish aren't biting.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a disappointing fishing trip with rough weather and no fish to show for it. Coe's solution to deal with the disappointment is to indulge in alcohol and relaxation.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the jib sail down boys, take the jib sail down
Let's quickly reduce the speed and movement of the ship in order to make a turn
Turn this ship around boys, before we run aground
If we don't redirect the vessel, we will hit land and cause severe damage
The fish aren't biting today boys, fish aren't biting today
The ocean is not producing much aquatic animals which would render our fishing trip as unsuccessful
I'm gonna lay on my bunk and get drunk as a skunk
I will lay down in my bed and drink copious amounts of alcohol
?Cause the fish aren't biting today
Since today's fishing trip was unproductive
There's six foot waves and my stomach craves
I'm feeling seasick in the rough ocean and I need proper medication or a healing drink
Some good old Antiguan rum
The best antiseptic for my condition is authentic rum from Antigua
I put some away for a rainy day
I saved a portion of rum for when I need it most
And the rain she's starting to come now
The bad weather is also beginning to precipitate water
There's a northern wind and the lights are dim
The Northern winds are blowing hard causing poor visibility
Like a good fresh Cuban cigar
I'm about to smoke a Cuban cigar I kept aside for special occasions
I got me a hutch where there might be a bunch
I have a private stash of prohibited substances which might have other people's share
In the Captions pickle jar
I hid my stash in a preserving jar inside the captain's chamber
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@derekmartinez7134
I think its safe to say Last Man On Earth kills it with their song selection
@devilbooster1082
Derek Martinez amen to that
@intrepiddevildog
Looks Like they Nailed it with a Virus in 2020. Hope it doesn't end like the show.
@masonsdungeon3754
THATS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID
@camrennik9512
exactly the reason I’ve been playing this song on repeat! Tandy for prez! Lol
@carsonjenkins8902
That’s why I’m here
@zach32889
All time favorite country singer
@born321
Who has the audacity to actually give this a thumbs down????!?!!! 😤😤😤
@garyhenderson7741
a genius but also an outlaw. we are lucky to have him.
@308winmag
Songs been stuck in my head for bout 4 days now, don't mind it though