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."
Please Come To Boston
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm staying here with some friends
And they've got lots of room
You can sell you paintings on the sidewalk
By a café where I hope to be working soon
Please come to Boston
She said, "No, David, you come home to me"
"Hey rambling boy, why don't you settle down
Boston ain't your kind of town
There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me
I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee"
Please come to Denver with the snowfall
We'll move up into the mountains
So far we can't be found
And throw "I love you" echoes down the canyon
And then lie awake at night till they come back around
Please come to Denver, she said
"No, you come home to me"
And she said
"Hey rambling boy, why don't you settle down
Denver ain't your kind of town
There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me
I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee"
Now, this drifter's world goes 'round and 'round
And I doubt if it's ever gonna stop
But of all the dreams I've lost and found
And all that I ain't got I still need to lean to
Somebody I can sing to
Please come to L.A. to live forever
California life alone is just too hard to build
I live in a house that looks out over the ocean
And there's some stars that fell from the sky
A' living up on the hill
Please come to L.A.
She just said, "No, David, you come home to me"
And she said
"Hey rambling boy, why don't you settle down
L.A. ain't your kind of town
There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me
I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee"
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
The song "Please Come To Boston" by David Allan Coe is about a restless, wandering man who urges his lover to join him in his travels to Boston, Denver, and Los Angeles. The singer is trying to convince his lover to leave her life and come with him, while she is trying to convince him to come home. The lyrics create a sense of longing, and the contrast between the singer's desire for adventure and his lover's desire for stability is palpable.
In the first verse, the singer pleads with his lover to come to Boston with him, where he is staying with friends who have plenty of room. He even suggests she could sell her paintings on the sidewalk while he works at a café. However, his lover insists that he come back to her, stating that Boston is not his town. In the second and third verses, the singer makes similar pleas for his lover to join him in Denver and Los Angeles, but she continues to insist that he come home to her.
Overall, the song is about the tension between the desire for adventure and the desire for stability and the difficulties of finding a balance between them. The singer longs for someone to sing to and depend on, while also wanting to explore the world around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Please come to Boston for the springtime
Asks someone to go to Boston during the spring season.
I'm staying here with some friends
The singer is currently with some acquaintances.
And they've got lots of room
The singer's friends have enough space to accommodate others.
You can sell you paintings on the sidewalk
One could vend their artwork on the pavement.
By a café where I hope to be working soon
The artist wishes to work at a coffee shop near the place of vending.
She said, "No, David, you come home to me"
The individual being addressed by the singer declines the offer and asks the singer to return home.
"Hey rambling boy, why don't you settle down
The woman speaks to the singer who frequently travels and suggests that he takes up a more stable way of living.
Boston ain't your kind of town
The woman thinks Boston isn't the type of place for the artist, based on his preferences.
There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me
The woman argues that there is no significant motive for the artist being in Boston and that she is a unique individual that he needs to return to.
I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee"
The artist identifies herself as a fan of someone from Tennessee, the same place the artist appears to be from.
Please come to Denver with the snowfall
The singer invites someone to Denver during the winter season.
We'll move up into the mountains
The invitation includes moving to a hilly location.
So far we can't be found
The location will be a secluded one.
And throw "I love you" echoes down the canyon
The singer suggests an expression of affection by creating echoes that carry across the valley.
And then lie awake at night till they come back around
The individuals involved would wait up at night to hear the echoes before falling asleep.
Please come to Denver, she said
The individual again refuses the invite, requesting the artist to return home.
"No, you come home to me"
Echoes the request for the artist to return home.
"L.A. Ain't your kind of town
The woman thinks Los Angeles is not the suitable location for the singer.
There ain't no gold and there ain't nobody like me
The woman suggests that there are no compelling reasons for the singer to be in Los Angeles and that she is the only unique thing he needs.
I'm the number one fan of the man from Tennessee"
Echoes the fact that the woman is a fan of someone from the same state as the artist.
Now, this drifter's world goes 'round and 'round
The artist speaks about the cycle of drifting through places.
And I doubt if it's ever gonna stop
The artist expresses reservations that the cycle will end.
But of all the dreams I've lost and found
Despite the traveling lifestyle, the singer has experienced significant hopes and losses.
And all that I ain't got I still need to lean to
The artist admits that despite the experiences, he still needs someone for support and companionship.
Somebody I can sing to
The song concludes by expressing the need for someone special to share the singer's passions and desires.
Please come to L.A.
The singer asks someone to come to Los Angeles.
She just said, "No, David, you come home to me"
The woman again refuses to leave, instead suggesting that the singer should return home.
"Hey rambling boy, why don't you settle down
Echoes the previous request for the artist to settle and lead a less nomadic life.
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Repeats the request for the artist to go to Boston again with a plea to return home.
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Echoes the previous line, asking the singer to come home.
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Echoes the previou, asking the singer to come home.
Please come to Boston (Hey rambling boy, come home)
Echoes the previous lines imploring the artist to come back.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Loggins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dr. Craphead
on Damn I Wish I Was a Nigger
The song is not by David Allan Coe
Niggerhatingme
on Nigger Hatin Me
I like sugar and I like tea
But I don't like niggers, no sir-e
There are two lone things that'll make me puke
That's a hog eating slop and a big black spook
You know it, 'cuz I show it
Like a barnyard rooster I crow it
And the NAACP would sure like to get
A hold of nigger hatin' me.
Roses are red and violets are blue
Niggers are black and you know that's true
But they don't mind 'cuz what the heck
You gotta' be black to get a welfare check.
.And I'm broke, no joke. I ain't got a nickle
For a coat and I ain't black you see, so Uncle
Sam won't help poor nigger hatin' me.
Jigga-boo Jigga-boo where are you? I was
Here on the woodpile watching you. Jigga-boo
Jigga-boo come outdoors. No! I'sa scared of the
White man way down south.
You know it, 'cuz I show it. Stick your black
Head out and I blow it and the NAACP can't keep
You away from 'lil 'ol nigger hatin' me.
Mirror mirror on the wall who is the blackest
Of them all? A man named King it ain't no doubt
And he's causin' lots of trouble with his baboon
Mouth. Oh no it's he's a done it, caused by the
Trouble he's a brewin' and the NAACP can't win if
The white man stick with nigger hatin' me.
Hey Mr. President what'd ya say? When are we
Whites gonna have our day? The niggers've had
Theirs for such a long long time. I'm a white
And it's time that I had mine.
You know it, 'cuz I show it. Stick your black head
Out and I blow it and the NAACP can't win if the
White man stick with nigger hatin' me.
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
Nigger hatin me'
All true, how's the death count in chimpcago? https://heyjackass.com/
Ben - Moderator
on Nigger hatin me
Meaning of this line above has now been corrected
Matt
on Nigger hatin me
Who ever did the meaning lines is funny... woodpile is a real term, and when it says jig aboo come out doors, he imitates a poor sounding guy saying he's afraid of the racist whites from the south cuz if they even show themselves in public, they were a target. This is a bad song about the unspoken truth
cemegonuts
on You piss me off...you fuckin' jerk
This is not David Allen Coe. It is a song written by Gaye Delorme and performed by Garry Lee and Showdown.
Teresa Warnke
on Pick Em, Lick Em, Stick Em
Are there any decent constitutional lawyers in the house?
Mr. Coe has been barred from performing in most public forums.
He is one the last surviving Outlaws of country music. Although, Nigger Fucker has racist theme, Mr. Coe was defended by his life long friend, Charlie Pride, who inspired the song, all of his days. They were close friends until the end.
David Allen COE is elderly and we don't have long to have an opportunity to see him perform. What is more is that he deserves to use his constitutional right to free speech.
Some would like to have this song and many more that feel are offensive removed from existence. I am not a racist and recognize the foulness of the song, but, I am mature enough to turn off music or any other media that I don't like.
Personally, the Brian Adam's song, "Rum to You", makes me sick, as does Reba Macy tyre's, "Fancy" and "Whoever's in New England".
Ms. Macy tires songs if a mother pimping out her daughter and an abandoned housewife faithfully waiting for her man to return from fucking his mistress hurts women. The Brian Adam's song also hurts women. I do not for a minute believe that this music should never be heard again. It does provide opportunity to discuss these things with younger people.
I am going to delete my YouTube music account because they removed DAC for it's content. I did have much respect for YouTube for it's American spirit and patriotism even though the way they pay their talent is nonsensical. One deletion is a demonstration of what will follow. Eventually this could lead to less freedoms for all of us.
Please don't fall into the currant popular victim trend. Turn off music you don't like and get on with your day.
Or stand up to censorship of the arts.
Thank You,
Teresa Warnke
Rodan
on Cum Stains on the Pillow
Dribble it on her nose!
11inthemoney
on Itty Bitty Titty
Young sex is the best
11inthemoney
on Itty Bitty Titty
Shucks it's cool.
Rodan
on Cum Stains on the Pillow
Another AWESOME DAC song that makes me bellylaugh!!!