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."
Seven Mile Bridge
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That connected on marathon shore
Yes and it was the gateway key west his grandpa
Had told him ten times or more
The stories of some sailors curse on the bridge
Where it opens to let the boats through
But the natives all laugh at grandpas old stories
Now most of them sail across to Miami
From the edge of the blue water line
With craw fish and snappers to sell at the market
For money to spend on some wine
They always cross through at the seven mile bridge
Except when the moon comes out full
They're not superstitious they tell you as they are
Repeating that old seaman's rule
Watch out for those outlaws and pirates
Lord knows that they'll steal you blind
Don't mess around with those cutthroats and thieves
They're robbers and killers of time
And there's nothing worse than an old sailors curse
On the seven mile bridge where you find
They're stealing the future and making believe
The past is still somewhere behind
The seven mile bridge, the seven mile bridge
And he found a woman who'd come here from Cuba
She gave him a son and a dream
They lived in a conch house somewhere on stock island
With the seven mile bridge in between
She'd spent her nights on the window walk wondering
If he'd safely pull through the storm
While he spent his money on painted up women
And whiskey to keep his blood warm
Then he'd gamble on crab races till he was broke
While she sat up waiting all night
Then felling too guilty to face her and tell her
He'd look for some bully to fight
At the end of the rainbow where the sun always shines
Just south of the seven mile bridge
She waits at the window for signs of his sailboat
And tries not to worried the kids
She sneaks a few drinks from the bottle she hides
From a husband that's to tired to think
With feelings of guilt she picks up the bottle
And pours the remains in the sink
Now she thinks of the men that stare at her boldly
They know she's a woman alone
With fingers that tremble she touches her body
And wishes her man would come home
Now the years pass so quickly for time is a thief
His skin looks like leather by now
His woman's got fat and lost all he
But, Lord, she's lived up to her vow
She looks at her son that's going on twenty
He's ready to live his own life
She hopes he can find a sea worthy woman
A sailor sure needs a good wife
Why he's just like his daddy
She thinks as she watches
Him weaving those fish nets all day
Knowing that some time the seven mile bridge
Will take him and lead him astray
He might return his woman would learn
Broke like his daddy and drunk
She wrote down some words on an old piece of sail cloth
Nailed it over his bunk
Why then, she packed his sea bag and filled up his trunk
His new wife would want it that way
Just before the old man shook the younger lads hand
These are the words he did say
The song "Seven Mile Bridge" by David Allan Coe tells the story of a man and his family who live near the seven mile bridge that connects Marathon shore to Key West. As a child, he was told stories by his grandfather about the bridge's history, such as the sailors' curse on the bridge, which supposedly opens to let boats through. However, the natives laugh at his stories and insist that they are not true. The man later meets a woman from Cuba, and they reside in a conch house on Stock Island, with the seven mile bridge in between them.
The woman spends her nights on the window walk, waiting for her husband to safely return from his sailing ventures, while he spends his money on alcohol and gambling. The song suggests that time is a thief, and years pass by too quickly. The man and woman grow old, and she hopes that their son will find a "sea worthy woman," knowing that the seven mile bridge will eventually lead him astray.
The song portrays the struggles of a family living by the seven mile bridge, and the sacrifices they make in order to survive. It also reflects on the importance of finding a good partner in life and avoiding the pitfalls of alcohol and gambling.
Line by Line Meaning
You know as a child, he heard tell of the seven mile bridge
As a child, he was told of the existence of the seven mile bridge.
That connected on marathon shore
The bridge connects to Marathon Shore.
Yes and it was the gateway key west his grandpa
His grandpa claimed it was the gateway to Key West.
Had told him ten times or more
His grandpa had told him about it repeatedly.
The stories of some sailors curse on the bridge
There are stories about a curse on the bridge.
Where it opens to let the boats through
The bridge opens to let boats pass through.
But the natives all laugh at grandpas old stories
The locals laugh at his grandpa's stories.
And swear that it just isn't true
They swear that the stories are not true.
Now most of them sail across to Miami
Most people sail across to Miami.
From the edge of the blue water line
They sail from the edge of the water.
With craw fish and snappers to sell at the market
They sell crawfish and snappers at the market for money.
For money to spend on some wine
They want to spend the money on wine.
They always cross through at the seven mile bridge
They always cross through the seven mile bridge.
Except when the moon comes out full
Except when the moon is full.
They're not superstitious they tell you as they are
They claim not to be superstitious.
Repeating that old seaman's rule
They repeat the old seaman's rule.
Watch out for those outlaws and pirates
Beware of outlaws and pirates.
Lord knows that they'll steal you blind
They will steal from you without mercy.
Don't mess around with those cutthroats and thieves
Avoid cutthroats and thieves.
They're robbers and killers of time
They ruin your life and waste your time.
And there's nothing worse than an old sailors curse
An old sailor's curse is the worst thing imaginable.
On the seven mile bridge where you find
On the seven mile bridge you'll find it.
They're stealing the future and making believe
They're stealing the future while pretending the past is still there.
The past is still somewhere behind
The past still exists in some way.
The seven mile bridge, the seven mile bridge
The song's main subject is the seven mile bridge.
And he found a woman who'd come here from Cuba
He met a woman who had come from Cuba.
She gave him a son and a dream
She gave him a son and hopes for the future.
They lived in a conch house somewhere on stock island
They lived in a conch house on Stock Island.
With the seven mile bridge in between
The seven mile bridge was between their house and the mainland.
She'd spent her nights on the window walk wondering
She spent her nights standing at the window, worrying.
If he'd safely pull through the storm
She worried if her husband would make it through the storms safely.
While he spent his money on painted up women
He spent his money on women who wore makeup.
And whiskey to keep his blood warm
He drank whiskey to keep himself warm.
Then he'd gamble on crab races till he was broke
He gambled on crab races until he ran out of money.
While she sat up waiting all night
Meanwhile, she stayed up all night waiting for him.
Then felling too guilty to face her and tell her
He felt guilty and couldn't face her to tell her the truth.
He'd look for some bully to fight
He looked for someone to fight.
At the end of the rainbow where the sun always shines
He went to the end of the rainbow, where the sun always shines, to find peace.
Just south of the seven mile bridge
This location is just south of the seven mile bridge.
She waits at the window for signs of his sailboat
She still waits for him at the window.
And tries not to worried the kids
She tries not to worry the children.
She sneaks a few drinks from the bottle she hides
She sneaks drinks from her hidden bottle.
From a husband that's to tired to think
Her husband is too tired to think.
With feelings of guilt she picks up the bottle
She feels guilty as she picks up the bottle.
And pours the remains in the sink
She pours the last of the bottle in the sink.
Now she thinks of the men that stare at her boldly
She thinks about the way that men stare at her.
They know she's a woman alone
They know that she is alone without her husband.
With fingers that tremble she touches her body
She's scared as she touches herself.
And wishes her man would come home
She wishes her husband would come home.
Now the years pass so quickly for time is a thief
Time passes quickly, making it feel like a thief.
His skin looks like leather by now
His skin looks like leather due to aging.
His woman's got fat and lost all he
His wife has become overweight and lost everything she had.
But, Lord, she's lived up to her vow
Despite everything, she has kept her vow.
She looks at her son that's going on twenty
She looks at her son who is turning twenty.
He's ready to live his own life
He is ready to start living his own life.
She hopes he can find a sea worthy woman
She hopes he can find a woman suitable for life at sea.
A sailor sure needs a good wife
It's important for sailors to have a good wife.
Why he's just like his daddy
Her son takes after his father.
She thinks as she watches
She thinks as she watches him weave fish nets.
Him weaving those fish nets all day
He spends all day weaving fish nets.
Knowing that some time the seven mile bridge
He knows that the seven mile bridge will take him eventually.
Will take him and lead him astray
It will lead him astray.
He might return his woman would learn
He may return, but his wife would learn.
Broke like his daddy and drunk
He may come back broke and drunk like his father.
She wrote down some words on an old piece of sail cloth
She wrote something on an old piece of sailcloth.
Nailed it over his bunk
She nailed it over his bed.
Why then, she packed his sea bag and filled up his trunk
She packed his sea bag and trunk.
His new wife would want it that way
His new wife would appreciate it.
Just before the old man shook the younger lads hand
Just before the old man shook the young man's hand.
These are the words he did say
These are the words he said.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
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!!!