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."
This Bottle In My Hand
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know Friday night he'll do it all again
Oh, he'll drink till he falls down
Then he'll order one more round
And then go home with that bottle in his hand
And the only thing I can hold on to is this bottle in my hand
I know I'll never have to share it with any other man
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
She told George that changing diapers could sure become a drag
And to clean the house and cook for him was not her kind of bag
She said she needed someone who would love and understand
Then she left him with that bottle in his hand
And the only thing I can count on now is this bottle in my hand
I know I'll never have to share it or with any other man
I'm so glad you introduced us and I'll do the best I can
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
Yes, we'll be faithful to this bottle in my hand
The lyrics of David Allan Coe's "This Bottle in My Hand" explore the themes of loneliness, addiction, and heartbreak. The singer tells the stories of two individuals who have been left with nothing but a bottle in their hands. The first person spends his entire paycheck on whiskey every week and continues to drink until he passes out. The second person, a woman, leaves her partner, citing the mundane activities of life as the reason, and he is left with a bottle in his hand. The singer, also alone, finds solace in the bottle, knowing that he will never have to share it with anyone else.
The song speaks to the idea of addiction as a refuge from the emotional pain in one's life. These individuals have been abandoned and they turn to alcohol to numb their pain. The repeated line, "the only thing I can hold on to is this bottle in my hand," emphasizes the idea that their only constant companion is the alcohol. The line "I'm so glad you introduced us" suggests that the introduction to alcohol was the beginning of the addiction that now rules their lives.
Overall, the song shows how addiction can serve as a coping mechanism for those who have been hurt and are struggling with loneliness and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Last week he spent his whole pay check on whiskey
He spent all of his earnings on alcohol last week
I know Friday night he'll do it all again
He'll repeat the same behavior again this Friday night
Oh, he'll drink till he falls down
He'll continue drinking until he passes out
Then he'll order one more round
He'll still order another drink even after getting intoxicated
And then go home with that bottle in his hand
He'll carry the bottle of alcohol with him even after leaving the bar
And the only thing I can hold on to is this bottle in my hand
The only thing that gives me comfort and security is this bottle of alcohol in my possession
I know I'll never have to share it with any other man
I am grateful that I don't have to share this bottle of alcohol with anyone else
I'm so glad you introduced us and I'll do the best I can
I am thankful for the person who introduced me to this bottle of alcohol and I'll continue to drink responsibly
To be faithful to this bottle in my hand
I will remain loyal to this bottle of alcohol and won't let go of it
She told George that changing diapers could sure become a drag
She expressed to George that taking care of their child's need could be tiresome
And to clean the house and cook for him was not her kind of bag
She stated that performing household chores and cooking for her partner were not her liking
She said she needed someone who would love and understand
She wanted a partner who would love and comprehend her
Then she left him with that bottle in his hand
After breaking up with George, she left him with a bottle of alcohol as a pseudo-partner for emotional support
And the only thing I can count on now is this bottle in my hand
The only thing that has been constant in my life now is this bottle of alcohol
Yes, we'll be faithful to this bottle in my hand
I'll be loyal to this bottle of alcohol until the very end
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@georgehodges685
my best friend george died a year ago from cerosis , we were friends for over 35 years and both drinkers. this song reminds me of him because of the content and the coincidence of our names being the same as the singers in this song...........i miss you george....rest in peace my brother.......dave
@killingmachine616
"he'll drink till he falls down" story of my life
@wilfredheggart647
thats one thing i know how to drive a threewheeler i have been driving sincer five years old
@heartbreakkid5757
22 yo here you are not alone ,i'll be your side , if drinkin don't kill the memories will
@kevinwhitty5307
I tried still up after 12 hours ! Soon I hope...
@forgedeath
8 years ago you posted this comment.
I been drunk for 8 years. Things get better but I always turn back to the bottle in my hand, wishing you the best, brother.
@The50Fordman
This is real country, not the crap they put out today.
@yehudafinkelstein7504
You mean not the puzzy zhit out of Trashville today.
@caitlynbailey7119
@@yehudafinkelstein7504 hell yeah brother that's what he meant
@CROC1225
Country+rap= Crap