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."
One Monkey
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I'm gettin' low on sap.
I'm in a strange, she's try'n' to drink me in. [3]
I think I got the clap.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I wanna go.
Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Po-lice try'n' to catch me.
So it's the end, I got no friends.
An' I'll never make my bail.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I wanna go.
Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Wa-oww!
Fireman wants to sue me,
Said, "I'll set your ass on fire."
Said, "I'll beat ya, I'll mistreat ya."
He's a fuckin' liar.
Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I wanna go.
Warden wants to put me,
Said, in the 'lectric chair.
Said, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
He don't really even care.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I gonna go.
Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Yeah-aw.
Fireman wants to sue me,
Said, "I'll set your ass on fire."
Said, "I'll beat ya, I'll mistreat ya."
He's a fuckin' liar.
Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I wanna go.
Warden wants to put me,
In the ee-lectric chair.
Says, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
He don't really even care.
But oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I'm gonna go.
Wa-oww!
The song One Monkey by David Allan Coe presents a series of unfortunate events that the singer is facing, such as being accused of having a sexually transmitted disease, being arrested by the police, and being threatened by a fireman who wants to set him on fire. The lyrics suggest a feeling of desperation and hopelessness, but the refrain "one monkey don't stop no show" conveys a sense of determination and resilience. The monkey in this case may represent the problems and obstacles that the singer is facing, but he is suggesting that these obstacles won't stop him from continuing with his life and plans.
The lyrics are also quite humorous, with Coe using colorful language and irreverent tone. The line "He's a fucking liar" is a jarring example of this. The song has been noted for its blend of country, blues, and rockabilly influences, which reflect Coe's eclectic style. The song has been a favorite of Coe's fans since its release in 1976 and remains a popular cult classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor try'n' to tell me, That I'm gettin' low on sap.
The singer is being told that he is losing his energy and vitality.
I'm in a strange, she's try'n' to drink me in.
The singer is with a woman who is using him for her own benefit.
I think I got the clap.
The singer believes he has contracted a sexually transmitted infection.
Oh, no, that ain't the way I wanna go. Oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show.
The artist is not willing to let his troubles get the best of him, and a single setback won't stop him from continuing.
Po-lice try'n' to catch me. Gonna put my ass in jail. So it's the end, I got no friends. An' I'll never make my bail.
The artist is facing arrest and imprisonment without any support or means to get out of jail.
Fireman wants to sue me, Said, 'I'll set your ass on fire.' Said, 'I'll beat ya, I'll mistreat ya.' He's a fuckin' liar.
The singer is being threatened by a fireman with false accusations of arson and violence.
Warden wants to put me, Said, in the 'lectric chair. Said, 'Good riddance to bad rubbish.' He don't really even care.
The singer is facing the death penalty and the warden is indifferent to his fate.
But oh, no, one monkey don't stop no show. Oh, no, that ain't the way I'm gonna go.
Despite the artist's dire situation, he remains resilient and refuses to let it bring him down.
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@timthompson4027
I've been listening to DAC for nearly 40 years. Just heard this song last night.
I'm a self -employed plumber, work by myself.. I have been saying that it's a One Monkey Show.. Then I Hear this Jewel..
Thank You Mr. David Allen COE..
@brocklaminack3292
Plumb on brother
@jjbinx
Do you fix water heaters or hydronic equipment? Mine's has been acting up these past few weeks
@caydencopeland744
He can literally sing anything and it sounds good
@shawnrusselld
That's because he's the goat
@Boviathan
One of the few videos that will play outside of YouTube on the little screen
@walsch80
Long life to Dixieland...the only true America that I love... Hi, from Tyrol...
@hansboofer
How ya doin from The Bronx..love this shit , too..
@sandsoftime1954
The definitive and best version of this song.
@primehood9156
This is beyond belief holy fuck