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."
On My Feet Again
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dedicated to Dr. Martin Scheid who saved my life when my appendix busted in Houston, and to all the people who came to my last concerts of 1978 and didn't complain that I was only able to sing from a wheel chair.
I SPENT A LIFETIME IN PRISON BELIEVING ID NEVER GET OVER THE FALL
SOME SAID THE DEVIL, BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS IF I PUT MY FUTURE IN HIM
OTHER FOLKS BET THAT ID NEVER GET ON MY FEET AGAIN
RUNNING AND JUMPING FREE AS A BIRD JUST LIKE A CHILD LEFT TO PLAY
FREEDOM WAS ONE MORE THING I TOOK FOR GRANTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT AWAY
MARRIAGES BREAKUP AND SOME PEOPLE TAKE UP DRINKING TO MAKE THEM FORGET
BOTH OF THEM SWEARING, NEITHER ONE CARING WISHING THAT THEY NEVER MET
TAKING THE CHILD AWAY, WHO CARES WHAT CHILDREN SAY UNTIL THEY TURN INTO MEN
SOMEDAY YOU'LL SEE I'm GONNA BE ON MY FEET AGAIN
AND I LEFT MY STOMACH IN HOUSTON ON SOME SURGEONS KNIFE BUT I SLEEP THOUGH IT ALL
IN THE RECOVERY ROOM FATE DEALT THE CARDS TO SOON TAKING MY LEGS IN THE FALL
WHEEL CHAIRS TURN INTO CANES TILL I LEARNED TO WALK PLACES THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN
NOW THAT I'm FREE ITS GOOD TO BE ON MY FEET AGAIN
The song "On My Feet Again" by David Allan Coe is about overcoming personal struggles and finding one's way back to freedom and success, despite the odds. The first verse speaks of spending a lifetime in prison, both physically and spiritually. The singer was busted for first-degree, but he was too blind to see who was to blame for the fall. Some said the devil was the one to blame, but the singer believes in putting his future in God. The verse ends with other folks betting that he would never get on his feet again.
The second verse talks about how freedom was taken for granted until it was taken away. Marriages break up, people take up drinking to forget, and children are taken away. The singer acknowledges that life can be hard, and sometimes it feels like nobody cares until they turn into men. Despite all of this, he has hope that someday he will be on his feet again.
The last verse hints at a physical illness or ailment that the singer has faced. He has left his stomach in Houston on some surgeon's knife, and in the recovery room, fate dealt the cards too soon, taking his legs in the fall. Initially, he depended on wheelchairs that turned into canes until he learned to walk in places he'd never been before. Having regained his freedom, he expresses gratitude for being on his feet again.
Overall, "On My Feet Again" is a song about perseverance, hope, and faith. It encourages listeners to keep faith in God and never give up, no matter what struggles or obstacles they face.
Line by Line Meaning
I SPENT A LIFETIME IN PRISON BELIEVING ID NEVER GET OVER THE FALL
I spent a long time feeling trapped and hopeless, thinking I'd never recover from my past mistakes.
BUSTED FOR FIRST DEGREE I WAS TO BLIND TO SEE WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR IT ALL
I was charged with a serious crime and couldn't see that I was responsible for my actions.
SOME SAID THE DEVIL, BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS IF I PUT MY FUTURE IN HIM
Some people blamed the devil for my mistakes, but it was really up to me to decide my own fate.
OTHER FOLKS BET THAT ID NEVER GET ON MY FEET AGAIN
Many people thought I'd never be able to recover from my mistakes and become successful again.
RUNNING AND JUMPING FREE AS A BIRD JUST LIKE A CHILD LEFT TO PLAY
I longed for the freedom and carefree joy of childhood, when I could run and jump without a care in the world.
FREEDOM WAS ONE MORE THING I TOOK FOR GRANTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT AWAY
I didn't appreciate the value of freedom until it was taken away from me as a punishment for my crimes.
MARRIAGES BREAKUP AND SOME PEOPLE TAKE UP DRINKING TO MAKE THEM FORGET
Sometimes people turn to alcohol to cope with the pain of a failed marriage or relationship.
BOTH OF THEM SWEARING, NEITHER ONE CARING WISHING THAT THEY NEVER MET
After a bitter breakup, both parties may feel angry and hurt, wishing they had never gotten involved in the first place.
TAKING THE CHILD AWAY, WHO CARES WHAT CHILDREN SAY UNTIL THEY TURN INTO MEN
Children can be deeply affected by the breakup of a family, but their emotions are often overlooked until they grow up and become adults themselves.
SOMEDAY YOU'LL SEE I'm GONNA BE ON MY FEET AGAIN
Despite all the challenges I've faced, I'm determined to get back on my feet and succeed in life once again.
AND I LEFT MY STOMACH IN HOUSTON ON SOME SURGEONS KNIFE BUT I SLEEP THOUGH IT ALL
During a medical emergency, I had to have surgery that left me without a stomach, but I was unconscious for the procedure.
IN THE RECOVERY ROOM FATE DEALT THE CARDS TO SOON TAKING MY LEGS IN THE FALL
After my initial surgery, something went wrong that resulted in me losing the use of my legs.
WHEEL CHAIRS TURN INTO CANES TILL I LEARNED TO WALK PLACES THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN
After being confined to a wheelchair, I was eventually able to use a cane to walk again, and I was excited to explore new places on my own two feet.
NOW THAT I'm FREE ITS GOOD TO BE ON MY FEET AGAIN
After overcoming so many obstacles and difficult times, I'm grateful to be free and able to walk on my own two feet once again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernard Haw
Love him or hate him, DAC is an important part of music history. I love his music.
ChipWitCheez
Thank you for posting this. Reminds me of my childhood and daddy. This gets me through the hard times. Great song
James Powell
I LOVE THIS SONG!!! GONNA GET DRUNK HELL YEA
Shelly Campbell
LOVE DAVID ALLAN COE! PLAYED HIS SONG "EVENAFTER FOREVER" FOR OUR WEDDING! HUSBAND JEFF INTRODUCED ME TO HIS MUSIC AND LOTSA OTHER GREAT MUSIC!
BigFatTboneSticks
because its a great song from one of the best song wrighters to ever live thats why.
Mark Hunger Jr.
Thanks, I really needed to hear this one today.
stuwad1
Oh My F-IN GOD ! Im not going to leave the computor tonight , my lord thank you again .
David Hull
I FUCKIN LOVE THIS SHIT DUDE!
Raven101able
The true outlaw of country music. Johnny Cash rescued him from a cell and made him a performer. Made Waylon and Willie look like boy scouts! Ahahhaaaa
cmcfadin442
@Whiskey Rebel ok