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 [âĻ] 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 â and even Cash."
The Old Grey Goose is Dead
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go tell Aunt Rody the old grey goose is dead
Grandpa found her dying grandpa found her dying
Grandpa found her dying in the millpond on her head
The gander won't eat now gander won't eat now
Gander won't eat now because his wife is dead
Somebody go tell Aunt Rhody go tell Aunt Rody
[ fiddle - banjo ]
Let's pray for the babies pray for the babies
Pray for the babies because their mama's dead
Somebody go tell Aunt Rhody...
[ fiddle ]
Lord now go tell Aunt Rhody children go tell Aunt Rhody
Want you to go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
Everybody go tell Aunt Rhody now now go tell Aunt Rhody
Now now go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
The song "The Old Grey Goose is Dead" by David Allan Coe tells the story of the death of a beloved goose and the grief that follows. The singer urges someone to tell Aunt Rody that the goose has died, and then explains that the goose's mate, the gander, won't eat now that his wife is gone. The song takes on a mournful tone as the singer asks listeners to pray for the babies, who have lost their mother, and to tell Aunt Rody about the goose's death. The final lines of the song encourage everyone to go and tell Aunt Rody that "the old grey goose is dead."
On one level, the song is a simple tale about a goose's death, but it also serves as a metaphor for the loss of someone beloved. Just as the gander and the babies are grief-stricken after the goose's death, listeners are encouraged to feel empathy for those who mourn the loss of loved ones. The repetition of the phrase "Go tell Aunt Rody" emphasizes the importance of communication and sharing one's feelings with others during times of loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Go tell Aunt Rody go tell Aunt Rody
Inform Aunt Rody immediately
Go tell Aunt Rody the old grey goose is dead
Inform Aunt Rody that the old grey goose has passed away
Grandpa found her dying grandpa found her dying
Grandpa discovered the grey goose in a dying state, twice for emphasis
Grandpa found her dying in the millpond on her head
Grandpa found the grey goose dying in the water, with her head submerged
Gander won't eat now gander won't eat now
The gander has lost its appetite, twice for emphasis
Gander won't eat now because his wife is dead
The gander has lost its appetite because his mate has passed away
Somebody go tell Aunt Rhody go tell Aunt Rody
Someone needs to inform Aunt Rhody urgently
Go tell Aunt Rhody that the old grey goose is dead
Aunt Rhody needs to know that the old grey goose has died
Let's pray for the babies pray for the babies
Let us pray for the goslings, twice for emphasis
Pray for the babies because their mama's dead
The goslings need our prayers because their mother has died
Lord now go tell Aunt Rhody children go tell Aunt Rhody
Urgent message to tell Aunt Rhody
Want you to go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
The message we need to convey to Aunt Rhody is that the old grey goose has passed away
Everybody go tell Aunt Rhody now now go tell Aunt Rhody
The message is important, everyone needs to inform Aunt Rhody now, twice for emphasis
Go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
Urgently convey to Aunt Rhody that the old grey goose is no more
Lyrics Š O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@derick1388
Go tell Aunt Rody go tell Aunt Rody
Go tell Aunt Rody the old grey goose is dead
Grandpa found her dying grandpa found her dying
Grandpa found her dying in the millpond on her head
The gander won't eat now gander won't eat now
Gander won't eat now because his wife is dead
Somebody go tell Aunt Rhody go tell Aunt Rody
Go tell Aunt Rhody that the old grey goose is dead
[ fiddle - banjo ]
Let's pray for the babies pray for the babies
Pray for the babies because their mama's dead
Somebody go tell Aunt Rhody...
[ fiddle ]
Lord now go tell Aunt Rhody children go tell Aunt Rhody
Want you to go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
Everybody go tell Aunt Rhody now now go tell Aunt Rhody
Now now go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody tell her that the old grey goose is dead
@benbell5407
Hey, everyone! Let's quote Resident Evil!
"This forest... Is full of... z-z-Zombies and Monsters..." "Zombies and Monsters?"
"That was close! Second late, you would've fit nicely into a sandwich!"
"Are you telling me he injected the G-Virus into HIS OWN BODY?!"
"S.T.A.R.S.!"
"FATHEEEERRRR!"
"Your right hand comes off?"
"My name is Alice. I worked for Umbrella."
Wait... CURSE YOU, PAUL W.S. ANDERSON!!!
@soccer69heit
I find it absolutely fascinating that the lyrics differ slightly in EVERY version of this song I've heard... Also that it has differing titles. So cool!
@Gandalf_the_White
soccer69heit that's folk music for you
@Fluffyangel1597
My grandparents used to to sing this to me as a lullaby! đđđđ. I didn't think it was a real song until now!
@kahlilporter9815
My mawmaw did to she was born in 1926 she passed Nov 2022
@trikstari7687
My mom sang this to me and my sister as a nursery rhyme to get us to sleep.
@survivrs
Back when I was 7 or 8, we had to sing this song in music class. I must not have had much for emotions then because it didn't bother me, but it popped into my head a few days ago and I actually started to tear up. I'm 60! Why would you have young children sing about death?
@pedrofernandes176
Muito foda eu e minha familia viajamos escutando essa musica kkkkk
@9lontoonieful1
Good song! Well done!
@lesliejordan9674
its a great song I love it!
@rickconn5293
Great song! We sent it to friends in Australia