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."
Sweet Angeline
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're still a child but I can see the woman fighting to bust out
And take you far away from me sweet Angeline
Sweet Angeline you're young and free
Don't ever let nobody get inside your mind
Until you get too blind to see sweet Angeline
Angeline don't let nobody tell you that your dad don't love you
And your mother Angeline sweet Angeline Angeline
And your mother Angeline sweet Angeline
Angeline
The song Sweet Angeline by David Allan Coe is a poignant cautionary tale disguised as a father's heartfelt advice to his daughter as she grows up. Coe urges his daughter to remain strong, independent, and to guard her heart against anyone who may hurt her. In the opening lines, Coe expresses his hope that nobody ever hurts his daughter Angeline, who is still young and naive but has potential for growth and maturity. The subsequent line refers to the duality of Angeline - still a child but a woman fighting to break free.
Coe knows that one day, Angeline will want to venture out and explore the world by herself, leaving her father behind. He urges her to take advantage of her youth and not let anyone enter her mind and manipulate her into making bad decisions. Coe reminds his daughter that her worth does not depend on anyone else's opinion and that she should trust her instincts. He also affirms his love and admiration for both Angeline and her Mother, encouraging his daughter to overlook the hate of others who may try to turn her against them. In summary, Coe's Sweet Angeline is an emotional and touching message that encourages young women everywhere to stand up for themselves, remain resilient, and never give up on their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet Angeline I hope nobody ever hurts you Angeline
David Allan Coe hopes that no one ever hurts Angeline because she is special.
You're still a child but I can see the woman fighting to bust out
Angeline is young, but David sees her strength and knows that she will become a strong woman someday.
And take you far away from me sweet Angeline
David Allan Coe knows that someday, Angeline will leave him to make her own life wherever she chooses to go.
Sweet Angeline you're young and free
David tells Angeline that she is young and free, with her whole life ahead of her.
Don't ever let nobody get inside your mind
David advises Angeline not to allow anyone to manipulate or control her thoughts and opinions.
Until you get too blind to see sweet Angeline
David warns Angeline that if she allows others to control her mind, she may not see the dangers that lurk around her.
Angeline don't let nobody tell you that your dad don't love you
David tells Angeline that no one can tell her that her father doesn't love her, because he knows he does.
And your mother Angeline sweet Angeline Angeline
David emphasizes that Angeline's mother also loves her, and he wants her to know how loved she is.
Angeline don't let nobody tell you that your dad don't love you
David repeats his earlier message to make it clearer and more memorable for Angeline.
And your mother Angeline sweet Angeline
David reiterates that Angeline's mother loves her deeply and wants her to be happy.
Angeline
The song ends with David Allan Coe saying Angeline's name, emphasizing his love for her and his desire for her to succeed in life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tommyknox777
Coe is so under rated. probably because of his X-Rated album