A Boy Named Sue - Cash Johnny, guitar chords

Published: 2017-01-18 15:18
Selection chords: Sarah Harris

 G#
My daddy left home when I was three
 C#
And he didnʼt leave much to ma and me
 D#                                           G#
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
 G#
Now, I donʼt blame him cause he run and hid
 C#
But the meanest thing that he ever did
 D#                                         G#
Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."

 G#
Well, he must oʼ thought that is quite a joke
 C#
And it got a lot of laughs from aʼ lots of folk,
 D#                                     G#
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
 G#
Some gal would giggle and Iʼd get red
 C#
And some guyʼd laugh and Iʼd bust his head,
           D#                                G#
I tell ya, life ainʼt easy for a boy named "Sue."

 G#
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
 C#
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
 D#                                     G#
Iʼd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
 G#
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
 C#
That Iʼd search the honky-tonks and bars
 D#                                        G#
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.

 G#
Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
 C#
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
 D#                                    G#
I thought Iʼd stop and have myself a brew.
 G#
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
 C#
There at a table, dealing stud,
 D#                                       G#
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."

 G#
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
 C#
From a worn-out picture that my motherʼd had,
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And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
 G#
He was big and bent and gray and old,
 C#
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
 D#                              G#
And I said: "My name is ʼSue!ʼ How do you do!
Now you gonna die!!"

 G#
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
 C#
And he went down, but to my surprise,
 D#                                     G#
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
 G#
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
 C#
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
 D#                                                   G#
Kicking and aʼ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

 G#
I tell ya, Iʼve fought tougher men
 C#
But I really canʼt remember when,
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He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
 G#
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
 C#
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
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He stood there lookinʼ at me and I saw him smile.

 G#
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
 C#
And if a manʼs gonna make it, heʼs gotta be tough
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And I knew I wouldnʼt be there to help ya along.
 G#
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
 C#
I knew youʼd have to get tough or die
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And itʼs the name that helped to make you strong."

 G#
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
 C#
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
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To kill me now, and I wouldnʼt blame you if you do.
 G#
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
 C#
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
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Cause Iʼm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.ʼ"

 G#
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
 C#
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
 D#                                         G#
And I came away with a different point of view.
 G#
And I think about him, now and then,
 C#
Every time I try and every time I win,
N.C.
And if I ever have a son, I think Iʼm gonna name him
                G#
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!