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."

Why Me
David Allan Coe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I've known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving you
Or the kindness you've shown.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so

Help me Jesus I know what I am
Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Tell me Lord, if you think there's a way
I can try to repay
All I've taken from you
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
Help me Jesus I know what I am

Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Overall Meaning

The song "Why Me" by David Allan Coe is a prayer-like introspection of an individual who is overwhelmed by the kindness and blessings bestowed upon him by God. The singer is puzzled by the fact that he is the recipient of God's love and mercy, even though he doesn't feel particularly worthy or deserving of it. He asks the Lord, "Why me, what have I ever done/To deserve even one/Of the pleasures I've known?" The sense of gratitude and wondering is palpable in these lines.

As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges his own imperfections and shortcomings. He confesses that he has "wasted" what has been given to him, and that he needs the Lord's help in order to find his way back to him. The repetition of the plea, "Help me Jesus," virtually turns the song into a prayer. The singer knows he is in need of divine intervention, and begs for the Lord's assistance in getting his life back on the right track.

In the final verse, the singer asks the Lord if there is any way for him to "repay" God for all that has been given to him. He is willing to "show someone else/What I've been through myself," and hopes that by sharing his story and experience with others, he can help them find their way to God. The song is an honest expression of gratitude and humility, as well as a recognition of the singer's own fallibility and need for divine guidance.

Line by Line Meaning

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
I am questioning why I have been so fortunate in life and wondering if I am truly deserving of these blessings.

To deserve even one
I am acknowledging that I have received far more than I ever deserved or earned.

Of the pleasures I've known
I am reflecting on the many joys and comforts I have experienced in my life.

Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
I am sincerely seeking to understand what I have done to merit the love and kindness I have been shown.

That was worth loving you
I am acknowledging that God's love for me is boundless and undeserved, and that I have done nothing to earn it.

Or the kindness you've shown.
I am acknowledging the many ways in which God has shown me kindness and mercy, even when I did not deserve it.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
I am admitting that I have not always used the blessings I have been given wisely, and that I have made mistakes in my life.

Help me Jesus I know what I am
I am acknowledging my flaws and weaknesses, and asking for God's help in overcoming them.

Now that I know that I've need you so
I am realizing that I cannot succeed or find true happiness without relying on God for guidance and support.

Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.
I am asking God to take control of my life and guide me on the path towards salvation.

Tell me Lord, if you think there's a way
I am asking for God's guidance and direction in finding a way to make amends for past mistakes and live a righteous life.

I can try to repay
I am acknowledging the debt I owe to God for his mercy and kindness, and expressing a desire to make things right.

All I've taken from you
I am acknowledging that God has given me many blessings, and realizing that I have not always used them wisely or to his glory.

Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
I am expressing a desire to use my own experiences and mistakes as a way to guide and help others who may be struggling.

What I've been through myself
I am acknowledging that my own struggles and challenges may be the very thing that help others who are going through similar experiences.

On my way back to you.
I am expressing a desire to return to God and live a life that is aligned with his will and purpose.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Kris Kristofferson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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