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."
You Can Count On Me
David Allan Coe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can count on me
I won't ever let you down
You can count on me
You say you want a working man
To bring the money home
Someone to be good to you
A man that wants to settle down
And put his feet on solid ground
You want a love that's safe and sound
You can count on me
You say you're looking for a man
To be there when you call
Someone who will stand by you
And never let you fall
A man that you can call your own
A man that you can trust alone
To love when the children's grown
You can count on me
The song "You Can Count on Me" by David Allan Coe is a romantic ballad addressed to a woman, letting her know that he is the man she has been searching for. He emphasizes his reliability, dependability, and commitment to her by repeating the phrase: "You can count on me." The first verse makes it clear that the woman is looking for a working man who can bring home the money, be good to her, never let her down, and is ready to settle down. The second verse, however, reveals that she wants more than that. She wants a man who will always be there for her when she calls, stand by her, never let her fall, someone she can call her own and trust alone, not just for now, but even when the children have grown up.
Overall, the song is about reassurance, commitment, and trust in a relationship. It's a promise of a long-lasting relationship that will be built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. Coe's use of repetition of the phrase "You can count on me" is meant to emphasize the message of the song and convey the depth of his commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
You can count on me, girl
I promise to always be there for you, my love
You can count on me
I am dependable and reliable, you can trust me
I won't ever let you down
I will never disappoint you or break your heart
You say you want a working man
You want a partner who is hardworking and can provide for you financially
To bring the money home
To earn a steady income to support our family
Someone to be good to you
You desire someone who treats you with kindness and respect
And never do you wrong
I will never hurt you, deceive you or betray you in any way
A man that wants to settle down
You want a partner who is ready to commit to a peaceful and stable life
And put his feet on solid ground
To have a secure and comfortable life together
You want a love that's safe and sound
A loving relationship that is free from danger, stress, or harm
You say you're looking for a man
You are searching for the right partner for life
To be there when you call
A partner who is always available and attentive to your needs
Someone who will stand by you
A partner that is supportive and will never abandon you
And never let you fall
I will always keep you safe and help you through anything tough
A man that you can call your own
A partner who is exclusively yours and devoted to only you
A man that you can trust alone
Someone trustworthy, faithful, and honest to you
To love when the children's grown
To be your lifelong companion through thick and thin
You can count on me
I will keep my promises, and you can rely on me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: REGGIE CALLOWAY, VINCENT PKA CINE CALLOWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimmy Sue
Awesome Song!! Thanks for putting IT UP!! :-)
eil king
Thanks much for post. Just found.