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."
That Old Time Feeling
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Draws circles around the block
Like a woman with any children
Holding hands with the clock
That old time feelin'
Falls on its face in a park
Like an old wino wonderin'
That old time feelin'
Comes and goes in the rain
Like an old man with his checkers
Dying to find him a game
That old time fellin'
Plays for beer in a bar
Like an old blues time picker
Who don't recall who you are
That old time fellin'
Limps through the light on a crutch
Like an old soldier a wonderin'
If he's paid too much
That old time feelin'
Rocks and spits and cries
Like an old lover rememberin'
The girl with the clear blue eyes
That old time feelin'
In the song, "That Old Time Feeling", David Allan Coe is describing the nostalgic feeling that we all experience from time to time. He paints a picture of this feeling through various characters and scenarios. The "old time feelin'" is compared to a woman with children holding hands with a clock, drawing circles around the block. This is an analogy for the cyclical nature of nostalgia and how it can seem to linger and repeat itself.
The feeling is further described as falling on its face in a park, like an old wino wondering if he'll make it until it gets dark. This is a stark contrast to the previous analogy, as it shows the darker side of nostalgia and how it can make us feel lost and helpless. Coe continues to describe how this feeling can come and go in the rain, playing for beer in a bar, limping through the light on a crutch, and rocking and spitting and crying like an old lover remembering the girl with the clear blue eyes.
Overall, the song captures the essence of nostalgia: the bittersweet feeling of remembering the past, and the yearning to relive it, even if just for a fleeting moment.
Line by Line Meaning
That old time feelin'
The nostalgic sentiment associated with past experiences.
Draws circles around the block
It is difficult to escape, as it surrounds the person's thoughts and emotions.
Like a woman with any children
The feeling is all-encompassing and demanding, similar to the needs of a mother with multiple children.
Holding hands with the clock
The passage of time is inextricably linked with the feeling, and the two are connected and affecting each other.
Falls on its face in a park
The feeling can suddenly lose its intensity or significance, like someone falling unexpectedly in public.
Like an old wino wonderin'
The feeling can lead to confusion and uncertainty, much like an alcoholic wondering about their future.
If hell make it till it gets dark
The future is uncertain and may be difficult, as illustrated by the fear of not surviving until the end of the day.
Comes and goes in the rain
The feeling is not constant and can fluctuate like weather patterns.
Like an old man with his checkers
The feeling may bring about a desire for pastimes or activities from a bygone era, akin to an elderly man playing a classic game like checkers.
Dying to find him a game
The feeling may cause a strong yearning for something that is difficult to obtain, reminiscent of someone who is desperate to play checkers but is unable to find someone to play with.
Plays for beer in a bar
The feeling can be related to the music of the past played in a bar, often in exchange for a low amount of money or free drinks.
Like an old blues time picker
The feeling is akin to an aging musician playing traditional blues music, of which they have a deep knowledge and love.
Who don't recall who you are
The feeling can sometimes be solitary, with the musician playing for themselves, rather than recognizing or acknowledging the presence of an audience.
Limps through the light on a crutch
The feeling can be difficult to bear, causing one to move at a slow pace, similar to someone who needs assistance walking.
Like an old soldier a wonderin'
The nostalgia associated with the feeling can be similar to that of a veteran, wondering about the past and how it relates to their current life.
If he's paid too much
The past can cause one to ponder whether their actions or sacrifices were worthy, as shown by the veteran's concern that he may have been overpaid for his services.
Rocks and spits and cries
The feeling can engender strong emotions, including rocking back and forth, spitting in anger, and crying in sadness or joy, much like a newborn baby.
Like an old lover rememberin'
The feeling can be similar to that of an aging lover, recalling memories of past relationships and how they have influenced their present.
The girl with the clear blue eyes
A specific memory may be associated with the feeling, such as the love for a girl with striking blue eyes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy Clark
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!!!