Family Tradition
Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics

Country music singers have always been a real close family
In the country music world, everyone is usually very supportive and close-knit.

But lately, some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and me
However, some of my relatives have turned their backs on me because I’ve moved away from the usual country music style.

I guess it's because I kind of changed my direction
They don't like what I'm doing now, which is different from what they expect from me.

Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition
I've gone against the usual country music tradition by changing my style, and that's why they're upset with me.

They get on me and want to know, "Hank why do you drink?"
People often ask me why I drink so much.

Hank, why do you roll smoke?
They also ask me why I smoke so much.

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
They're also curious why I live out the lyrics to my songs.

Over and over everybody makes my predictions
Everyone thinks they know what I'm going to do and say before it happens.

So if I get stoned, I'm just carrying on an old family tradition
If I do get stoned, I'm just following the country music tradition of using substances to be creative.

I am very proud of my daddy's name
I'm proud of my dad's legacy and reputation.

Although his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the same
However, my kind of music is different from my dad's music.

Stop and think it over, put yourself in my position
Before you judge me, try to imagine how it feels to be in my shoes.

If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family tradition
And if I do get high and sing all night, that's just what we do in my family.

So don't ask me, "Hank, why do you drink?"
So don't keep asking me why I drink so much.

Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Or why I smoke so much.

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Or why I live out the lyrics of my songs.

If I'm down in a honky-tonk some ole slick's trying to give me friction
And if I'm at a bar and someone is giving me trouble,

I said leave me alone, I'm singing all night long it's a family tradition
I'll tell them to leave me alone because singing and drinking is just how my family operates.

Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam
I've had relationships with women and alcohol in the past.

And they both tried to kill me in nineteen-seventy-three
In 1973, I had a bad experience with both women and alcohol.

When that doctor asked me, "Son, how did you get in this condition?"
And when the doctor asked me how I ended up that way,

I said, "Hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on an ole family tradition"
I told him that it's just part of my family's tradition, and that's why I'm like this.

Stop and think it over, try to put yourself in my unique position
So before you judge me, try to understand my unique experiences.

If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family tradition
And if I do end up getting high and singing all night long, that's just what my family does.