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."
Hey Gypsy
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even if it's just to paint your wagon
Old hobo how long can this go on
She's mending socks and sittin' home a naggin'
Hey outlaw let's spend some time together she said outlaw
It does matter whether we're alone come on home
Hey drifter has your feeling for her gone
Hey loner she said hit the road and sing your songs
It won't be long until I have your baby
Hey outlaw let's spend some time together...
Hey drifter (hey gypsy) hey outlaw (hey drifter)
Hey loner (hey outlaw) hey hobo (hey drifter)
Hey gypsy hey gypsy
In David Allan Coe's song "Hey Gypsy," the singer addresses multiple archetypal characters, such as the gypsy, the hobo, the outlaw, and the loner. The song opens with a plea for the gypsy to come back home, even if it's just to paint their wagon. The gypsy, typically a wanderer, seems to have strayed too far from home, and the singer wants them to return. The next verse addresses the hobo, who's been spending too much time on the road, leaving their partner at home to mend socks and nag. The singer then shifts to the outlaw, who is invited to "spend some time together," suggesting that the outlaw is probably also a wanderer of sorts. The last verse is directed at the drifter, who's been out on the highway for too long, causing them to lose their feelings for their partner, the loner, who tells the drifter to continue singing and wandering.
The song paints a picture of a world where people often feel compelled to wander, but ultimately, they long for a sense of stability and connection. The multiple archetypal characters are representative of different aspects of human nature, and each character's plea reflects something universal about human desire. The gypsy is restless, the hobo is torn between their love and wanderlust, the outlaw is seeking connection, and the drifter is lost. By addressing each character directly, the singer uncovers some of the complexity of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey gypsy, hey gypsy come on home
Gypsy, return home even if it's just to make some alterations to your life.
Even if it's just to paint your wagon
Reworking your life can be a small change like painting your wagon to get you started.
Old hobo how long can this go on
The singer wonders how much longer the hobo lifestyle will continue for.
She's mending socks and sittin' home a naggin'
The woman back home is getting restless and her energy is being focused on domestic chores.
Hey outlaw let's spend some time together she said outlaw
The woman invites the outlaw to be with her, disregarding the circumstances.
It does matter whether we're alone come on home
The woman wants to be with the outlaw regardless of their being together in isolation or not.
Hey drifter has your feeling for her gone
The singer inquires whether the drifter's affection for someone back home has faded.
Have you spent too many night out on the highway
The artist questions how many nights the drifter has spent on the road, impacting his relationship back home.
Hey loner she said hit the road and sing your songs
The woman encourages the loner to hit the road and sing, thus continuing to live his lifestyle.
It won't be long until I have your baby
Despite this, the woman reminds the loner that if she has his baby, things will alter.
Hey outlaw let's spend some time together...
Reiteration of the woman's desire to be with the outlaw.
Hey drifter (hey gypsy) hey outlaw (hey drifter)
Repetition of the labels used to describe the characters in the song.
Hey loner (hey outlaw) hey hobo (hey drifter)
Repetition of the labels used to describe the characters in the song.
Hey gypsy hey gypsy
Reiteration of the address to come back to the woman's life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE, FRED SPEARS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ipissoffretards1317
Hey gypsy, hey gypsy come on home
Even if its just to paint your wagon.
Old hobo, how long can this go on?
She's mending socks and sitting' home a nagging'
Hey outlaw, lets spend some time together
She said outlaw it doesn't matter whether were alone
Come on home
Hey drifter has your felling for her gone
Have you spent to many nights out on the highway?
Hey loner she said hit the road and sing your songs
It wont be long until i have your baby
@stuwad1
Holy shit , i cant thank you enough for posting this . I spent day and night listening to this for years . This is the very best country music ever , and thank you for this .
@vampireLOREN
The last of the "outlaws".....a beautiful song, memories of a wonderful time in my life. I saw DAC at the Fairfield Hall Croydon UK..... must be 20+ years ago. Thank you...so much.
@wilsoncox4013
If you dont like his music then dont fuckin listen to it!
@mc2trip
I grew up on this record one of the best And dont tread on me.. kinda curesd as most drifters and hobo's uasaly are hooked on the road thanks dave for the great tune's ...wisco
@gtavtheavengergunnerlegend3340
Awesome album
@TomsOutside
I have worn out all my old DAC albums, It doesn't make any sense that his record companies don't make CDs of his old albums, Thanks for posting the videos,,Tom
@curtekstrom6600
DAC lost Ownership of all his Songs in Bankruptcy. Who knows who owns them.
@michaelferraro6459
That SUCKS /cause I just got turned on to his music/loven it
@jmalone0520
love this song. so laid back.,nice to sleep to.
@garofani4
Yeah, I'm dating myself in more ways than one, but I still have this album on vinyl and a working turntable to play it anytime I please. It doesn't get much better than this folks. This is real country music, not the synthesized commercial garbage pumped out of Nashville today and called "country".