Family Tradition
Hank Williams & Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics

Country music singers, have always been a real close family,
The country music community has always been a tight-knit group of people.

But lately some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and me.
Recently, some members of my family have cut ties with me and others.

I guess it's because I kind of changed my direction.
I suspect that the reason for this is because I have taken a different path in life.

Lord I guess I went and broke their family tradition.
I suppose I am responsible for breaking their family tradition.

They get on me and want to know Hank why do you drink?
My critics harass me and ask why I drink.

Hank, why do you roll smoke?
They also question why I smoke cigarettes.

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
They wonder why I insist on living the way I do, even though it reflects the lyrics of my songs.

Over and over everybody makes my predictions.
People repeatedly try to predict my behavior based on my past actions.

So if I get stoned, I'm just carrying on an old family tradition.
If I decide to smoke marijuana, I am simply following in the footsteps of my family members who did the same.

I am very proud of my daddy's name
I have a great deal of respect for my father and his legacy.

All though his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the same.
Although my music differs somewhat from my father's, I still honor his name.

Stop and think it over. Put yourself in my position.
Consider for a moment what it would be like to be in my shoes.

If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family tradition.
For my family, getting high and singing for hours is a customary practice.

So don't ask me, Hank why do you drink?
I don't appreciate it when people ask me why I drink alcohol.

Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Likewise, I find it tiresome when people ask me why I smoke cigarettes.

If I'm down in a honky-tonk some ole slick's trying to give me friction.
When I'm out at a bar, there's always someone who wants to pick a fight with me.

I said leave me alone I'm singing all night long it's a family tradition.
I tell them to leave me be and let me sing all night, just like my family members used to do.

Lord I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam
I have had romantic relationships with women, and I have also enjoyed drinking alcohol.

And they both tried to kill me in 1973.
In 1973, my love of women and alcohol almost led to my demise.

When that doctor asked me, "son how did you get in this condition?"
The doctor wanted to know how I ended up in such a terrible state.

I said, "hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on an ole family tradition."
I replied, "Well doc, I'm just continuing a long-standing tradition in my family."

Stop and think it over, try and put yourself in my unique position.
Pause for a moment and try to understand the challenges of my particular life situation.

If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family tradition!
Just remember, for me, getting high and singing all night is just another part of my family's customs.