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."
Meanwhile Back in Memphis
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In search of something new
You tell me now
That Memphis, girl
Don't hold a thing for you
Hypnotized by gypsy lies
Like a moth drawn to the flame
You're just a faceless face
Another nameless name
Living on the handouts
Of the Jesus of your own choosing
The Christ you knew
In Memphis, girl
Could not win for losin'
Love beeds for your rosary
And your drugs to see you through
You're telling me
At seventeen
You know more that I do
Say farewell to L.A
And your little coat of blue
'Cause meanwhile
Back in Memphis, girl
Our mama prays for you
All the way from Memphis, babe
In search of something new
You tell me now
At seventeen
You know more than I do
David Allan Coe's song "Meanwhile Back in Memphis" tells the story of a young girl who leaves Memphis in search of something new but eventually becomes lost in the big city of L.A. The song starts with the girl's friend asking her why she left Memphis, and she responds saying it held nothing for her. The lyrics imply she was unhappy with her life in Memphis and wanted to escape.
The girl is described as being hypnotized by gypsy lies and drawn to the flame like a moth, suggesting she became too trusting of the wrong people in L.A. The lyrics also suggest she became involved in drugs as a way of coping with her new life. The contrast between the two cities is made clear with the description of living on the handouts of the Jesus of her own choosing in L.A, compared to the Christ she knew in Memphis who "could not win for losin'". Despite her newfound knowledge, the girl is still young and naive, telling her friend at seventeen that she knows more than he does.
The lyrics take a somber tone as the song describes the girl's severe struggles in L.A., culminating in the need to say farewell to the city and her little coat of blue. The final line "meanwhile back in Memphis, girl, our mama prays for you" highlights the concern and love of her family back home, reminding listeners that despite her misguided choices, the girl has people who care for her and want her to find her way back.
Line by Line Meaning
All the way from Memphis, babe
I came from Memphis to find new experiences and opportunities.
In search of something new
I was looking for a change and a fresh start.
You tell me now
You're talking to me about how you feel now.
That Memphis, girl
You're talking about Memphis, Tennessee.
Don't hold a thing for you
You don't feel like Memphis has anything left for you.
Hypnotized by gypsy lies
You were easily taken in and misled by the promises of others.
Like a moth drawn to the flame
You were attracted to the danger and excitement of your situation.
In the crowd
You feel anonymous and insignificant among the people around you.
You're just a faceless face
You're completely unknown and unrecognized by anyone around you.
Another nameless name
People don't even know your name or who you are.
Living on the handouts
You're existing on the charity of others.
Of the Jesus of your own choosing
You're relying on your own interpretation of religion to get by.
The Christ you knew
The version of Christ you learned about in Memphis.
In Memphis, girl
This refers to Memphis, Tennessee.
Could not win for losin'
People in Memphis always seem to struggle and never quite come out on top.
Love beads for your rosary
You embrace both the hippy culture of the day, as well as your own religious beliefs.
And your drugs to see you through
You're also relying on drugs to feel okay.
You're telling me
You're explaining this to someone else, the singer perhaps?
At seventeen
You're still very young and inexperienced.
You know more that I do
You're claiming to know more than the person you're speaking to.
Say farewell to L.A.
You're leaving Los Angeles.
And your little coat of blue
You're leaving behind the things that you used to wear when you were presumably happier.
'Cause meanwhile
While that's happening.
Back in Memphis, girl
While you're leaving, people in Memphis are still there going about their everyday lives.
Our mama prays for you
Someone (possibly your mother) is praying that you're safe and happy wherever you are.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R. Townsend
My all time favorite by DAC!! This song moves me like no other song ever will. Not sure what the meaning of this song is to him, but i sure know what it means to me. As i left WV for Calif.with nothing at 17 alone. Wasn't really ini country music back then ,but had this cassette for some reason. I survived there 4 yrs. Thank you mom &dad for your prayers. And thank you DAC for this song.
barry jackson
So good amigo..im with you
Brent Rice
Luv this one, DAC and that great voice and that ringing 12 string guitar
DANIEL LOBO
He reworked this as "Talkin' To The Blues" on his live shows.
Bag Full of Toffee
one of his best
ocala 1885
Awesome jam
Knut Oskar Løkka
What a great song this is...and that guitar...is it Warren Haynes? The cover doesn't say.
AlucarDraculA
Knut Oskar Løkka yes I would think warren is the guitarist for this album since he joined DAC, in 1980, left in 84 and thus album was released in either 81 or 82... but funny thing is this song only appears on the cd, it's not on the original vinyl.... which is a total crying shame
Kirk Pyle
Thats not true. I have the vinyl.
big finger
its on my vinyl boi