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."
Now I Lay Me Down
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
She's the best thing in this life
Why she worships the ground that he walks on
She waits up for him at night and worries
And she always believes his stories about working overtime
And in twenty years beside him, cheating's never crossed her mind
Aw but it crossed his
Early last summer
In a person of a neighbor that she still calls her friend
And with a little push from drinkin one too many one night in the fall
He gave in
And now he wishes he could stop himself
But theres no easy way
So he lays down with his lover
And silently he prays
Now I lay me down to cheat
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
In his heart and soul
He knew that he was playing a game he could never win
But you know, forbidden fruit is sweet
Why it was sweet enough to make him risk it all again
And now he's giving up on looking for a way to fight the feeling
So he prays this simple pray
And hope it makes it past the hotel ceiling
Now I lay me down to cheat
On the woman I love so
And if I die between these sheets
I pray to God she'll never know
David Allan Coe's "Now I Lay Me Down to Cheat" is a heartbreaking ballad about a man who cheats on the woman he loves and his internal struggle with guilt and remorse. In the first stanza, the singer admits to cheating on his lover and prays that she never finds out. He knows that she is the best thing that has ever happened to him, and she waits for him at night while worrying until he comes back home. She trusts him, and he has never crossed her mind to cheat on her. However, at the beginning of the last summer, he meets a neighbor, and with a little push from drinking too much, he gives in and cheats on his lover. At this moment, he wishes he could stop himself, but there is no easy way, and he lays down with his lover, silently praying that she never finds out.
In the second stanza, the man realizes that he is playing a game he can never win, but the forbidden fruit is too sweet for him to resist. He is giving up on fighting the feeling and prays that he does not get caught. He knows that he is wrong and that he should stop, but he cannot help himself. He hopes his prayers make it past the ceiling of the hotel room he is cheating in.
The song shows the internal battle of a man who made a mistake but cannot find the strength to stop. It paints a sad portrait of a relationship ruined by one person's actions. The song is a masterpiece of storytelling and is a classic example of country music's narrative style.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I lay me down to cheat
I'm going to be unfaithful to my partner while I sleep
On the woman I love so
I'm going to cheat on the woman I claim to love
And if I die between these sheets
If I die while having sex with my lover
I pray to God she'll never know
I hope my partner never finds out about my infidelity
She's the best thing in this life
My partner is the most important person in my life
Why she worships the ground that he walks on
My partner has deep admiration and respect for me
She waits up for him at night and worries
My partner cares about my safety and well-being
Until he's safely home
She won't rest until I'm back home and safe
And she always believes his stories about working overtime
My partner trusts me and doesn't suspect me of cheating
And in twenty years beside him, cheating's never crossed her mind
My partner has been faithful to me for two decades
Aw but it crossed his
But the thought of cheating has crossed my mind
Early last summer
This feeling started to surface last summer
In a person of a neighbor that she still calls her friend
I've been cheating with a neighbor who my partner thinks of as a friend
And with a little push from drinkin one too many one night in the fall
One night, after drinking too much, I gave in and cheated
He gave in
I wasn't able to resist the temptation to cheat
And now he wishes he could stop himself
I regret my decision and wish I could stop cheating
But theres no easy way
But it's not easy to stop
So he lays down with his lover
So I continue to cheat on my partner
And silently he prays
And I pray that my partner never finds out
In his heart and soul
Deep down, he knows what he's doing is wrong
He knew that he was playing a game he could never win
I know that my infidelity will always end badly
But you know, forbidden fruit is sweet
But I cannot resist the temptation of forbidden love
Why it was sweet enough to make him risk it all again
The thrill of cheating was strong enough to make me do it again
And now he's giving up on looking for a way to fight the feeling
I'm unable to resist my urge to cheat and I'm giving up on trying to stop it
So he prays this simple pray
So I continue to pray that my partner never finds out
And hope it makes it past the hotel ceiling
And I hope that God hears my prayer, even though I'm cheating in a hotel
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Henderson, Walt Aldridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janeykelly9898
He should be in the country music Hall of Fame. Great songwriter and singer.
@MrWayneWhite
Call the Hall of Fame and talk to them
@papawx3
They will NEVER put him in, for several reasons: The feminist would have a stroke. So would the LGBTQers. And don't forget his biggest crime: He used the "N" word one time in one of his songs. No, he ain't getting in. But I don't think David is losing any sleep over either. He's used to being snubbed by now, that's just the way it is when you are your own man, and an OUTLAW too at that!
@troymcnamera4436
Pure country classic.
@ronwatson4135
Someone once said --- " You won't really know your wife until you meet her in court ".
@rw0050
Man if that ain't the truth.
@rockinredneck57
Country always has had lots of cheating and drinking songs. David was one of the best at both. You don't have to like cheating to like the music.
@lindseyf4515
Beautiful song, I love everyone but this is my number one favorite
@noahhayes5850
Can’t get enough of this wonderful toon
@darrylkeith7065
One of my all time heroes he is