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."
Fu
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who the Hell is she
Telling all them faggots
That they can't be free
Throw that bitch in prison
Then maybe she'll see
Just how much them goddamned homosexuals mean to me
Wash your clothes
Clean your cell
Help you drain your hose
Give you smokes
Laugh at jokes
Sew up all your clothes
Rub your feet
Beat your meat
Heaven only knows
What I'd do without those homosexuals
They all
Read and Write
Fuck all night
Clean your fingernails
Help you dress
Play you chess
Lay you down some rails
Be your wife
Take your life
In a jealous rage
Who says we don't need them homosexuals
I tell you
Some are big
Some are small
Some are in-between
Some are yellow belly queers
And some of them are mean
Some are killers
Some are thiefs
Some are singers too
In fact Anita Bryant
Some act just like you
So, fuck Anita Bryant
Who the Hell is she
Telling all them faggots
That they can't be free
Throw that bitch in prison
Then maybe she'll see
Just how much them goddamned homosexuals mean to me
Because they...
Wash your clothes
Clean your cell
Help you drain your hose
Give you smokes
Laugh at jokes
Sew up all your clothes
Rub your feet
Beat your meat
Heaven only knows
What I'd do without those homosexuals
They all
Read and Write
Fuck all night
Clean your fingernails
Help you dress
Play you chess
Lay you down some rails
Be your wife
Take your life
In a jealous rage
Who says we don't need them homosexuals
I tell you
Some are big
Some are small
Some are in-between
Some are yellow belly queers
And some of them are mean
Some are killers
Some are thiefs
Some are singers too
In fact Anita Bryant
Some act just like you
David Allan Coe's "Fuck Anita Bryant" is a protest song against the anti-gay campaigns led by Anita Bryant, an American singer and anti-gay activist. Coe's lyrics treat homosexuality as a protected right that should not be limited by any sort of discrminationist agenda harbored by Bryant. The harsh language used to adress Bryant is a sign of just how strongly this issue affects people. However, in calling her a bitch and her supporters as faggots, he creates a dichotomy that perpetuates hate and intolerance, something that is counterproductive to the fight towards equality.
Coe acknowledges that the homosexual community helps even those that disparage them by writing about them, singing, cleaning clothes, cleaning cells, giving smokes, and even providing an emotional crutch, thereby highlighting the hypocrisy of bigots. Coe describes homosexuals as human beings with a diversity of personalities, precisely to counter generalizations and stereotypes that are too often attached to the gay community. The line, "In fact Anita Bryant, Some act just like you", also conveys the message that, regardless of one's sexuality, humans are more alike than they might imagine.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Fuck Anita Bryant
Disrespectful expression towards Anita Bryant
Who the Hell is she
Questioning Anita Bryant's identity
Telling all them faggots
Anita Bryant is addressing homosexuals in a derogatory tone
That they can't be free
Anita Bryant is depriving homosexuals of their freedom
Throw that bitch in prison
Encouragement to put Anita Bryant in prison for her biased comments
Then maybe she'll see
Anita Bryant may understand the value of homosexuals if she experiences their absence
Just how much them goddamned homosexuals mean to me
Homosexuals are important and valuable to the singer
Because they...
Listing the reasons why homosexuals are important
Wash your clothes
Homosexuals do your laundry
Clean your cell
Homosexuals clean your cell
Help you drain your hose
Homosexuals assist in sexual activities
Give you smokes
Homosexuals provide cigarettes
Laugh at jokes
Homosexuals bring joy through laughter
Sew up all your clothes
Homosexuals mend your clothes
Rub your feet
Homosexuals massage your feet
Beat your meat
Homosexuals help in sexual activities
Heaven only knows
The value of homosexuals is immeasurable
What I'd do without those homosexuals
The singer can't imagine life without homosexuals
They all...
Explaining the diversity of homosexuals
Read and Write
Homosexuals have skills and knowledge
Fuck all night
Homosexuals are sexually active
Clean your fingernails
Homosexuals maintain your cleanliness
Help you dress
Homosexuals help you get dressed
Play you chess
Homosexuals engage in leisure activities
Lay you down some rails
Homosexuals provide drugs
Be your wife
Homosexuals provide companionship
Take your life
Homosexuals can be dangerous too
In a jealous rage
They can cause harm in intense situations
Who says we don't need them homosexuals
Homosexuals are important despite their downsides
I tell you...
Bringing attention to the diversity of homosexuals
Some are big
Homosexuals come in different sizes
Some are small
Homosexuals come in different sizes
Some are in-between
Homosexuals come in different sizes
Some are yellow belly queers
Homosexuals can be cowardly
And some of them are mean
Homosexuals can be cruel
Some are killers
Homosexuals can be murderers
Some are thieves
Homosexuals can be thieves
Some are singers too
Homosexuals can have vocal and musical talent
In fact Anita Bryant
Stating that even Anita Bryant is similar to these homosexuals in some ways
Some act just like you
Homosexuals can possess traits that are akin to Anita Bryant
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RobCookJr
This song isn't just hilarious, it displays some seriously great musicianship.
@KoffinKicker
My wife hates these albums, but my Pa was a man with taste and so am I.
@richardbarber3806
A true classic, listen to that guitar pickin!
@jasjfl
I will always remember the first time I heard this. My friend walked into my 8th grade science class singing it loud and proud and I was hooked.
@bobthebear1246
Seriously?
@brt5273
Aht he good old days when the filthy minds of adolescents was honest and on full display....
@dylanstokes7025
I knew david allen Coe was good,but I didnt know he was this good.he somehow found a way to make weird ass lyrics sound fucking amazing
@DojaPack
Baby won't you give me some head
@the_burchfield1655
for that hot math teacher in 8th grade... ms.craig where ever you are
@bassistdave109
for that judge that let's me go on everything wherever she is ahahaha!