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A Boy Named Sue Lyrics by Living Marimbas

Songs Made Famous by Johnny Cash

1970

[Verse 1]
My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
Just this old guitar and this empty bottle of booze
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."
[Verse 2]
Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk
It seems I had to fight my whole life through
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head
I tell you, life ain't еasy for a boy named "Sue."
[Verse 3]
Well, I grеw up quick and I grew up mean
My fist got hard and my wits got keen
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man who gave me that awful name
[Verse 4]
Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew
At an old saloon on a street of mud
There at a table, dealing stud
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."
[Verse 5]
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had
I know that scar on his cheek and his evil eye
He was big and bent and gray and old
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
I said my name was Sue "How do you do!"
[Verse 6]
Well, I hit him right between the eyes
And he went down, but to my surprise
He come up with a knife, cut off a piece of my ear
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
We crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer
[Verse 7]
I tell you, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile
[Verse 8]
He said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's the name that helped to make you strong
[Verse 9]
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do
But ya ought to thank me, before I die
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Because I'm the dirty * that named you Sue
[Verse 10]
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son
And I came away with a different point of view
And I think about him, now and then
Every time I try and every time I win
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue!
Credits
Living Marimbas

Living Marimbas

About “A Boy Named Sue” by Living Marimbas

Read the complete lyrics to "A Boy Named Sue" by Living Marimbas from the album "Songs Made Famous by Johnny Cash" in 1970. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Cover, Country.

"A Boy Named Sue" is performed by Living Marimbas. from the album "Songs Made Famous by Johnny Cash" in 1970 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Boy Named Sue", explore more songs by Living Marimbas using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Boy Named Sue" is credited to Living Marimbas. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Boy Named Sue" appears on "Songs Made Famous by Johnny Cash" in 1970.

Visit the Living Marimbas artist page at /artist/living-marimbas for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.