David Allan Coe (born September 6, 1939) is an American singer and songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴David Allan Coe (born September 6, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter. Coe took up music after spending much of his early life in reform schools and prisons, and first became notable for busking in Nashville. He initially played mostly in the blues style, before transitioning to country music, becoming a major part of the 1970s outlaw country scene. His biggest hits were "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile", "The Ride", "You Never Even Called Me by My Name", "She Used to Love Me a Lot", and "Longhaired Redneck". His most popular songs performed by others are the number-one hits "Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)" sung by Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck's rendition of "Take This Job and Shove It". The latter inspired the movie of the same name.

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."

Tomorrow is Another Day
David Allan Coe Lyrics

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Yes, the roof leaks and the bed she squeak
And the rent is due in just two more weeks
Now I just want to go back to sleep
Tomorrow is another day

Oh, the palm trees sway to and fro
I think I'll just sit and watch the coconuts grow
It's hard to get high when your feeling so low

And tomorrow is another day

Well, the mainsail broke on my fishing boat
And it's almost time for my rum and Coke
I'll fix it as soon as I have a smoke
Tomorrow is another day, yeah

So you go at night with your lantern bright
And you sit on the bridge and you get half tight
Ah, tonight you can't get the fish to bite
But tomorrow's another day, yeah, yeah

Tomorrow is another day
You know what I mean, son?
I want to go fishing and swimming

Looking at the pretty girls on the beaches, son
I don't want to do no work

Overall Meaning

David Allan Coe's song Tomorrow is Another Day is a reprieve from the everyday struggles and stresses of life. The song describes the mundane and difficult aspects of life, such as a leaky roof, a squeaky bed, and the imminence of paying rent. Despite these issues, the singer chooses to focus on the beauty in the world, such as the sway of palm trees and the growth of coconuts. The song recognizes that it's challenging to appreciate the world and enjoy life when one is feeling low, but the promise of a new day brings hope and the possibility of new beginnings. The singer describes how he will fix his fishing boat's mainsail, make himself a rum and coke, and relax while fishing under the stars. Tomorrow is another day, and with it comes the opportunity to succeed where one has failed before.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes, the roof leaks and the bed she squeak
My house is in dire need of repair, with leaks in the roof and a squeaky bed.

And the rent is due in just two more weeks
On top of my living conditions, I have to worry about coming up with rent money in a short amount of time.

Now I just want to go back to sleep
Given all of these problems, I feel tired and discouraged, and would rather sleep than face them head-on.

Tomorrow is another day
I take solace in the idea that tomorrow will bring new opportunities to address my troubles.

Oh, the palm trees sway to and fro
I am relaxing on a tropical island where palm trees sway gently in the breeze.

I think I'll just sit and watch the coconuts grow
I find comfort in the simple pleasures of island life, such as watching coconuts grow.

It's hard to get high when your feeling so low
Despite my beautiful surroundings, my current struggles are making it difficult for me to feel truly happy or carefree.

And tomorrow is another day
Once again, I look forward to the hope and potential that a new day brings.

Well, the mainsail broke on my fishing boat
Even though I am on vacation, problems are still arising -- such as a broken sail on my fishing boat.

And it's almost time for my rum and Coke
Despite these issues, I am still looking forward to enjoying a drink as part of my island getaway.

I'll fix it as soon as I have a smoke
I plan on addressing the repairs to my boat, but only once I have taken some time to relax with a cigarette.

Tomorrow is another day, yeah
Once again, I take comfort in the fact that I have another day in which to tackle my problems and live my life.

So you go at night with your lantern bright
I imagine another person, perhaps a friend or colleague, who goes night fishing with a bright lantern to light the way.

And you sit on the bridge and you get half tight
This person sits on a bridge and drinks alcohol to a semi-intoxicated level while waiting for fish to bite.

Ah, tonight you can't get the fish to bite
Despite this friend's efforts, they are not having any luck catching fish tonight.

But tomorrow's another day, yeah, yeah
However, once again there is always hope for the future, and tomorrow brings another chance to succeed.

Tomorrow is another day
This final line once again reinforces the central theme of the song -- that no matter what happens, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ALLAN COE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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