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."
Human Emotions
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
LONESOME, CRYING HEARTACHES
THAT'S HUMAN EMOTIONS
I NEVER KNEW, LORD
BEGGING, PLEADING, FORGIVENESS
THAT'S HUMAN EMOTIONS
THREES NOTHING AS LONESOME
AS HEARING HER SAY
SHE DON'T MEAN TO HURT ME
SHE JUST WANTS HER FREEDOM
REVENGE AIN'T WORTH HAVING
WHEN IT COMES SO SLOW
VIE HURT HER TO MUCH NOW
FOR HER TO GET EVEN
EVEN IF LEAVING
MEANS NO PLACE TO GO
SHE PACKED UP HER SUITCASE
ALONG WITH THE BABIES
BUT SHE LEFT HER PAINTINGS
THEY HANG ON THE WALL
ITS HER WAY OF TELLING ME
JUST WHAT ILL BE MISSING
MISSING HERS SOMETHING
I HATE MOST OF ALL
David Allan Coe's song "Human Emotions" explores the depths of sorrow and heartache that comes with a breakup. The song begins by describing the emotions that one experiences when they're left by the person they love. This includes the painful crying heartaches that come with the realization that the person you love is no longer there. Coe then goes on to talk about the begging and pleading that often happens in these situations. People often beg for forgiveness, for the other person to come back, but sometimes it's too late. The song depicts the depth of the human emotion that comes with the realization that the person you love is gone.
The chorus of the song emphasizes how much it can hurt to hear the person you love say that they don't want to hurt you. They just want their freedom. Coe emphasizes that revenge is not an answer in this playing field. It's slow, and it's not worth it to hurt someone else when they're already hurting. Revenge is not the right solution. Finally, the songwriter highlights that when the person leaves, it's not just their physical absence. They leave behind everything they've shared with the person, including the paintings on the wall, the memories, and all the things they've built together. All these things represent what the person leaving will miss.
Line by Line Meaning
LONESOME, CRYING HEARTACHES
The pain of being alone and heartbroken.
THAT'S HUMAN EMOTIONS
Such emotions are a natural part of being human.
I NEVER KNEW, LORD
The singer did not realize the depth of these emotions before experiencing them.
TILL SHE WENT AWAY
The cause of these emotions was the departure of a loved one.
BEGGING, PLEADING, FORGIVENESS
The artist longs for forgiveness and is desperate to make amends.
THAT'S HUMAN EMOTIONS
Such emotions are a common experience for humans.
THREES NOTHING AS LONESOME
The pain of loneliness is deeply felt.
AS HEARING HER SAY
The artist is devastated by the words of the departed loved one.
SHE DON'T MEAN TO HURT ME
The artist understands that the loved one did not intend to cause pain.
SHE JUST WANTS HER FREEDOM
The loved one left in search of their own freedom and independence.
REVENGE AIN'T WORTH HAVING
Seeking revenge in this situation would not lead to positive outcomes.
WHEN IT COMES SO SLOW
The artist recognizes that the pain of a slow revenge would not be worth it.
VIE HURT HER TO MUCH NOW
The singer has caused too much pain to the loved one for them to seek revenge.
FOR HER TO GET EVEN
The singer believes that even if the loved one wanted revenge, it would not be possible.
EVEN IF LEAVING
Despite the pain caused by departure, the loved one had no other choice.
MEANS NO PLACE TO GO
Leaving the artist may have left the loved one without a place to call home.
SHE PACKED UP HER SUITCASE
The loved one left with their belongings.
ALONG WITH THE BABIES
The loved one also took their children.
BUT SHE LEFT HER PAINTINGS
Surprisingly, the loved one left behind their paintings.
THEY HANG ON THE WALL
The artist is now left to admire the artwork on the wall.
ITS HER WAY OF TELLING ME
The paintings serve as a message from the loved one.
JUST WHAT ILL BE MISSING
The artist is left to contemplate what they have lost.
MISSING HERS SOMETHING
The absence of the loved one is a painful experience for the singer.
I HATE MOST OF ALL
This particular pain is the hardest of all to bear.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Damien Natas
According to an interview DAC gave once, this song was supposedly written in prison to deal with his life and the only things he could do to get through his hard time.. Amen to you DAC.
HONESTY IS NOT A SIN!
88OBS 999
Hi, do you happen to have a link or anything to that interview ? Thanks
Betty osborne
There Will Never Be Another One Like Him!
Music is an Art
Love this Man and Music..One of the Greatest Writers of all Time. A Man that can write Music like this has been Broken and Touch Deep to Your Soul...
Carl Dann
best song ever written!
diane carter
i love this song! one of the greatest male singers ever! i love ya mr coe
1911jt
Why can't we get this old DAC stuff on CD? My stepfather has all this good shit on vinyl and aint sharing it. So much good really good DAC that the general public knows nothing about.
Robbie Cousins
amazon has it
Betty osborne
David Allan Sings This Song With His Emotion( Pure Soul)♥️
Cat Daddy
eBay.