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."
In My Mind
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know Friday night he'll do it all again
Oh, he'll drink till he falls down
Then he'll order one more round
And then go home with that bottle in his hand
And the only thing I can hold on to is this bottle in my hand
I know I'll never have to share it with any other man
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
She told George that changing diapers could sure become a drag
And to clean the house and cook for him was not her kind of bag
She said she needed someone who would love and understand
Then she left him with that bottle in his hand
And the only thing I can count on now is this bottle in my hand
I know I'll never have to share it or with any other man
I'm so glad you introduced us and I'll do the best I can
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
Yes, we'll be faithful to this bottle in my hand
In David Allan Coe's song "In My Mind," the singer tells the story of three characters who have all turned to alcohol as a means of coping with their problems. The first character, a man, spends his entire paycheck on whiskey and repeats the pattern each Friday until he passes out from drinking. The second character, a woman, ends her relationship with George because she finds the domestic chores of taking care of her household and family unbearable. She leaves him with a bottle in his hand, and he becomes similarly dependent upon alcohol. The singer identifies with the coping mechanism of alcoholism and finds solace in the consistent presence of a bottle in their hand. The singer holds onto the bottle to avoid having to share their pain with anyone else.
Coe paints a bleak picture of alcoholism and its effects on individuals and relationships. The song suggests that dependence upon alcohol can lead to a lack of understanding and communication, which can cause irreparable damage to relationships. The song also highlights how addiction affects men and women differently. The male character seeks solace in a bottle from his workweek, whereas the female character chokes up with domestic chores.
Overall, "In My Mind" is a poignant portrayal of addiction's effects on the human psyche and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Last week he spent his whole pay check on whiskey
He spent all his money drinking whiskey last week
I know Friday night he'll do it all again
He will drink again and repeat his actions on Friday night
Oh, he'll drink till he falls down
He will drink until he passes out
Then he'll order one more round
After passing out, he will order one more drink
And then go home with that bottle in his hand
He will leave the bar with a bottle of whiskey in his hand
And the only thing I can hold on to is this bottle in my hand
The only thing I can cling to is this bottle of whiskey
I know I'll never have to share it with any other man
I will never have to share this bottle with anyone else
I'm so glad you introduced us and I'll do the best I can
I am grateful that you brought me to this bottle and I will do my best to remain loyal to it
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
I will remain dedicated to this bottle of whiskey
She told George that changing diapers could sure become a drag
She complained to George that changing diapers was a tiresome task
And to clean the house and cook for him was not her kind of bag
She disliked cleaning and cooking for him
She said she needed someone who would love and understand
She said she required a partner who would love and empathize with her
Then she left him with that bottle in his hand
She abandoned him with a bottle of whiskey
And the only thing I can count on now is this bottle in my hand
The only thing I can rely on now is this bottle of whiskey
Yes, we'll be faithful to this bottle in my hand
We will both faithfully serve this bottle of whiskey
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nightrain76
This song is genius.
Christopher Smith
Brilliant.
Jimmy Jimbo
@howlround @howlround The album is called, DAC, "Living on The Edge". It's on his website :-). Google it!
howlround
what album is this from? I've been hunting this down for a while.
Nightrain76
Living on the Edge
eil king
Thanks for taking time to post this great song. eileen
drumgold23
So, what is the Slint connection exactly?
Jonny Robson
Exactly I guess would be that Will Oldham covered this and he took the cover photo for the Spiderland album. plus Louisville indie in general
kackodemon
I much prefer Will Oldham's cover of thos song.
Col1n666
DAC does a better job.