A Boy Named Sue

Album: Johnny Cash At San Quentin (1969)
Charted: 4 2
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  • I want you to uh, I want to a
    If you don't mind Carl, I'd like you to stay out and help us on some songs
    I'd love to
    One of the greatest guitar players as well as song writers and singers in Memphis
    Appreciate a little help on guitar, alright. Thank you Carl

    Well, my daddy left home when I was three
    And he didn't leave much to ma and me
    Just this old guitar and an 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

    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 ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue

    Well, I grew 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
    That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
    And kill that man who gave me that awful name

    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

    Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
    From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had
    And I knew 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
    And I said, "My name is Sue, how do you do
    Now you're gonna die"

    (Yeah, that's what I told him)

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

    I tell ya, 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

    And 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"

    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
    'Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you Sue"

    Well what could I do? What could I do?
    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! Any-damn-thing but Sue!

    Alright, thank you very much Writer/s: Shel Silverstein
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 66

  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenSusan, I'm glad you like your (full) name. If you didn't, you might have said "My name is Susan...time for some bruisin'!"
  • Susan from Atlanta, GeorgiaWith all due respect to people named Sue or people who love someone whose name is Sue, it is a form of my name which I deeply dislike, and did long before this song came out (though I absolutely love the song itself). To remind people not to call me Sue, I tell them that I'm like Johnny Cash -- you can call me Bill or George, Fred, ANYTHING but Sue. My friend's boyfriend started calling me "Bill or George", and I love it!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 1st 1970, Johnny Cash and Shel Silverstein performed "A Boy Named Sue" on the ABC-TV program 'The Johnny Cash Show'...
    Nine months earlier on July 20th, 1969 Johnny Cash's version of the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #42; four weeks later on August 17th it peaked at #2* {for 3 weeks} and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    On the same day it peaked at #2 on the Top 100 it reached #1 {for 5 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, and it was his third straight #1 record on the Country chart, "Folsom Prison Blues (live)" and "Daddy Sang Bass" preceded it...
    * The three weeks "A Boy Named Sue" was at #2 on the Top 100, the #1 record for those three weeks was "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones.
  • Coy from Palestine, TxCash did perform this at San Quentin "live", but like his Folsom Prison album (also live) both albums were re mixed by the legendary producer Bob Johnston. Johnston's mixes did much to make both records hits.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxIn light of some of the ridiculous names my kids' classmates were saddled with, this song rings truer than ever.
  • Michael Scott from Punta Gorda, FlBack in 1997-98 I was driving a big truck from Florida to Atlanta along I-75 when I heard someone singing on the C.B. it was around 2:00 a.m.
    and this man driving a black and chrome stage coach bus was talking to me saying that he left from texas to south carolina to sing back up in a studio
    and I asked him if he would sing a couple of my favorites including this one. which he did. Easy to recognize HIS voice. What a nice guy.
  • Lois from Oakland, CaThe comment previously posted by user "Ekristheh" in Halath about at least one other recording of its being aired is accurate. I too remember the version where "Tarzan" was exclaimed amongst the other names at the end. I only heard that version once, on the radio, as a kid in California, contemporaneously while the song was on the charts in the U.S.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxAnyone who wants a good laugh (and perhaps a minor shock at the end) should do a web search for "Father of a Boy Named Sue." It's a follow-up/parody of BNS that Shel did in the late 70s, perhaps because he had gotten tired of hearing it.
  • Jeff from Atlanta, GaThe song MIGHT have been written about Judge Sue K. Hicks (HE was a man) that was also the judge in the Scopes Monkey Trial!!! "MIGHT" being the operative word - Silverstein DID attend a meeting that was directed by Judge Hicks and commented about his "funny female" first name!!! But Silverstein never admitted anything!! And YES - Silverstein was a cartoonist for Playboy - and he also wrote one of the highest selling childrens book of all time - "The GIving Tree" first printed in 1964 - and STILL in print today!!!!!
  • Bogoizbrania from Sofia, BulgariaBoy name Sue is Sue K. Hicks, the an American jurist in the 1925 trial of John T. Scopes, a Dayton, Tennessee.
  • Teresa from Mechelen, BelgiumI remember very well Johnny Cash singing in the prison of San Quintin; it was a real succes. When he sang "A boy named Sue" all the people in prison were laughing and shouting.
  • Chomper from Franjkin County, PaThere is a scene from the film ( which was also shown on video and now shown on DVD ), where Johnny was trying to see the Prisoners from onstage , but couldn't ; and he got a bit upset because the others wouldn't move out of the way . So what he did was he turned to the camera , and gave the bird ( the middle finger ). Years later before he died , Johnny Cash told about the incident in a interview .
  • Chomper from Franjkin County, PaHere are the names from the Original released album : ( Side One ) Wanted Man / Wreck of the Old 97 / I walk the Line / Darling Companion / Starkville City Jail . ( Side Two ) San Quintin / San Quintin / A Boy Named Sue / (They'll Be )Peace in the Valley / Folson Prison Blues . The CD reissue ( 2000 )contains these 18 songs : 1. Big River 2. I Still Miss Someone 3. Wreck of the Old 97 4. I Walk the Line 5. Darlin' Companion 6. I Don't Know Where I'm Bound 7. Starkville City Jail 8. San Quintin 9. San Quintin 10. Wanted Man 11. A Boy Named Sue 12. ( They'll Be ) Peace in the Valley 13. Folson Prison Blues 14. Ring of Fire 15. He Turned the Water Into Wine 16. Daddy Sang Bass 17. The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago 18. Closing Medley : Folson Prison Blues / I Walk the Line / Ring of Fire / The Rebel - Johnny Yuma.
  • Chomper from Franjkin County, PaIn the "Remastered Recording" (the actual UK broadcast recording ) , Johhny said these words to the Prisoners at San Quintin : "I tell you what ..This show is being televised from ..England .." ( Prisoners cheers ) "..They said ..They said , 'You gotta do this song , you gotta do that song ; You gotta stand like this , act like this ..' ; And I just don't give a damn , you know . I'm here ..I'm here to do what you want to do , and to do what I want to do ." Then the Prisoners cheered again . It was so cool the way he said it son stage .
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnAwesome lyrics, Johnny Cash was the coolest.
  • Ted from Phoenix, AzIf you look at the lyrics of Shel Silverstein's "The Father of a Boy Named Sue,", it should begin to dawn on you (as it did me) that "The Father of a Boy Named Sue," is really a parody of "A Boy Named Sue." There aren't many composers who can write good parodies of their own work (probably because they are personally too close to their own songs), but the late Shel Silverstein was a great exception.
  • Hans Randall from Madisonville, TnI am from Madisonville, TN. I live right down the street from Judge Sue K. Hicks house. I have been there many times. This song is about this judge, Sue K. Hicks, who was also one of the main persons instigaters of the scopes monkey trial. He died in 1980. Shel Silverstein wrote this wrong after seeing Sue Hicks at a judges conference in Gatlinburg, TN. Although the lyrics are made up, the inspiration for the song was this man's name. It is true.
  • Mixermatt from Bloomington, MnAlso check out "Lola" by the Kinks
  • Briar from Hazard, KyOne of John R. Cash's better songs. I have the version where sob is bleeped out. Hilarious.
  • Ric from Erskine, United KingdomShel did a great song later. If you can find it get it and listen...
    "A Front Row Seat to Hear Ol' Johnny Play" Top!
  • Barry from Bastrop, La, LaA note on Shel Silverstein: He was one of the original cartoonists for Playboy magazine before becoming a songwriter/author.
  • Rich from El Segundo, CaBailey had it right...the song was inspired by Scopes attorney Sue Hicks - for sure at least the seed of an idea of a song about a boy named Sue. Rich, RockOfAgesTrivia
  • Mike from Atlanta, GaI went to see Johnny with my parents at Lakewood Stadium in atlanta, where the NASCAR drivers ran.It must have been about '61 or '62. Johnny was there with June Carter( they were not married at the time). He sang last, of course. He had larengitus! He said if we would be patient that he would sing every song that he knew! and he did! And he saved "Ring of Fire" for last!!! I have enjoyed telling folks it was my first concert of many!!! Since then I've enjoyed everyone from Crosby, Stills and Nash to Saliva! I'm 51 and I hope to keep on Rockin'! Mike
  • Caleb from Burton, United Stateswhen johnny was in san Quentin, the last line was "I think im gonna name him Bill or George or any ol' damn thing but sue"
  • Mark from Byrdstown, TnThis song is on both Cash's "San Quentin" and "Madison Square Garden" albums.At the end of the Madison Square Gardens recording he says "im gonna name him ..after YOU!" Instead of the original line "Bill or George or any damn thing but Sue" used on the "San Quentin" album.I was never sure who the 'you' referred to but Cash does introduce Silverstein, who was in the audience, after the song.
  • Bubba Zanetti from Austin, TxGreat song by a helluva writer. Shel also wrote another wonderful little ditty called "Tequila Sheila" that Bobby Bare performed that has another funny twist ending. I first heard of him through the kid's book "The Giving Tree," and that still remains one of my all time favorites. Sweet yet poignant without being preachy; just one of those simple tales that teaches by example and seems to stay with you.
  • Darrell from Eugene, United StatesWell, look at the bright side. At least his name was not Elisha or Leslie. Now those REALLY sound like girls' names, and (mercifully) they are now used solely as such.
  • James M. Eull from St. Cloud, MnMy father in law met Johnny in an airport bar in minneapolis, and offered to buy him a beer. He respectfully delcined by saying "no thanks fella"s but let me buy you one. Jim Mn.
  • Clive from Omagh, Northern Ireland, IrelandThis was Johnny Cash's first hit in Britain and Ireland. It's a novelty song. The reason he speaks most of the song rather than sing it is because he had only heard the song and had not rehearsed it.

    If you watch him in the filmed live version you see that he is actually reading the words from a sheet of paper.

    As Bob Dylan said of Johnny; '' The greatest of the Greats''
  • Steve from Jamesburg, NjMy mistake-the parody was "A Girl Named Johnny Cash"
  • Steve from Jamesburg, NjI never heard it, but there was a parody song called "A Boy Named Johnny Cash"
  • Lill Kt from Sunny, NyJohnny Cash is my all time favorite artist because my dad used to love him and I grew up listening to him!! L8ter.... L
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesHe must have played it live at least one other time. My school friend had heard a live recording in which he concluded "Bill or George, or Tarzan! Anything but Sue!"
  • Joe from Lockport, IlOh my God, I love you, Terry from Northampton, England.
  • John from Houston, TxI heard Johnny Cash talk about this song once and he said that the first time he heard it was at a "guitar pull" at his Nashville home. (A guitar pull for the uninitiated is a meeting of song writers where they perform their newest stuff for each other. Many times the songs are not even protected.) Those present at the pull were Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Steven Stills (then Judy Collins' love interest and Shel Silverstein. Dylan did "Lay Lady Lay." Judy did "Both Sides Now." Stills did "Suite Judy Blue Eyes," written for Judy Collins, of course. And Silverstein did, "Boy Named Sue." When asked what he performed he responded something like, "Nothing that impressive." Silverstein also wrote the final song from "Postcards From the Edge" titled "I'm Checking Out of This Heartbreak Hotel," which was sung by Meryl Streep.
  • Bailey from Moses Lake, WaDid you guys know that this song has some historical significance. There was a court case in 1925 called the Scopes Monkey Trial (having to do with the teaching of evelution in public schools). The original prosecutors in the case were two brothers named Herbert E. Hicks and Sue K. Hicks. They were both friends of Scope. Anyway, Sue got his name because it was his mother's name and she died giving birth to him. The rumor has it that Johnny Cash or Shel Silverstein or whoever wrote the song thought that the fact that there was a boy named Sue was funny, and then wrote a song about it. So the boy that was named Sue actually had some significance. Yup and that's my bit to put in.

    -Thank you AP U.S. History!!
    Bailey Wa.
  • Spencer from Los Angeles, CaWhat? No, the lyrics are pretty self-explanatory. I don't think this song is really open to interpretation.

    I think it's a nice little song with a cute message. I like the rhythm, but that's about it. I love Shel Silverstein, though. :-)
  • Terry from Northampton, EnglandThis is about a boy named Georgie who changed his name by deed poll to Sue,because he thought Georgie was a Gay name.
  • Steve St. Michael from Renfrew, CanadaI think the somg is actually about a girl who thought she was a guy.

    Steve, Canada
  • Greg from Victoria, Canadaout of respect for Johny Cash it's an o.k. novelty song and not much else.
  • Lawrence from Saranac Lake, NyShel Silverstien was a genius! He wrote many songs for Dr Hook, as well as this one done by Johnny Cash, but the song of his I like most is "Redneck and Hippie Romance" by Bobby Bare. i currently live in an area where that song is SO true! shel could also write a serious song: "A Couple More Years" is one of the sweetest songs I have ever heard! I couldn't picture anyone but Johnny cash doing "A Boy Named Sue" however; it is his song!
  • Tristan from Omaha, Neone of the science teachers read this poem at school today in poetry cafe whitch was kinda boring since the kids did it and they did terrible
  • Fyodor from Denver, CoWas this his biggest hit? I sure don't remember hearing any other songs of his on top 40 radio as a kid (in the New York area). I first heard this on a family vacation trip, and I remember my father saying (maybe to my mother) that it was Johnny Cash, and I was impressed that it seemed like he was someone who I should know who he was, but I'd never heard of him before, and it was years before I ever heard any of his other music! First heard Ring Of Fire from Wall Of Voodoo...
  • Kristy from Whitehorse, Canadamy grandpa played in a band with johny cash way back when ... the band never got famous, only the people in the community really new about them, so they went their seperate ways and johny cash got famous. my grandpa and johny cash died just over a week apart =)
  • Rick from Humboldt, IaThe goo goo dolls titled an album "a boy named goo". It's a great album.
  • Angie from Osawatomie, KsI never knew that Shel Silversein wrote this...I loved his books as a kid.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThis song is so funny. I love Johnny Cash. RIP. I miss tou Johnny.
  • Dotty from Skokie, IlI saw Johnny Cash at an airport in Florida several years ago. He was a very polite wonderful person. "A Boy Named Sue" still is my favorite.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThe fact that the words are bleeped out makes it even funnier. I always wondered what those words rwere.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThis is one of the funniest songs ever recorded by Johnny Cash. I have heard both the bleeped and unbleeped versions and it is also an outstanding story song.
  • Brian from Meriden, CtMy name is SUE...how do you DO? Good father/son song. Father walks out. Son tries to kick his ass. They make up.
  • Joey from Woodstock, Gaall bleeped out words are-"cause im the 'son-of-a-bitch' that named you sue"
    "and if i ever have a son, i think im going to name him...bill or george! and 'damn' thing but sue!"
  • Ben from Nottingham, EnglandContray to what someone else has said, Johnny did perform this song again. In Fact, he not only performed it but also added the line "and i did have a son" at the end, at which point he would bring out his then young son John.
  • Kevin from Canada, CanadaI perform this song. Its got a different ending on Dash;s San Quentin. At the end he say "If I ever have a son Ill name him after you" I use that ending instead of "Bill or George anything but Sue" I use it because people are not expecting it. I like the way I growl "A kikin and a gougin in the mud and the blood and the beer"
  • Lia from Cleveland Heights, OhWhen I was in middle school, I did a report on Shel Silverstein, which is how I found out that he wrote this song. I also found out that he wrote a sort of companion song, The Father of a Boy Named Sue, which is sung to the same tune and the original and is quite funny. For lyrics, go here: http://www.sonicuke.com/c_father.php
    -Lia, Cleveland, OH Kittigal2@aol.com
  • Johnny from Bridgeport, OhJohnny said in an interview on tv I saw that this was the first and last time he ever played this song.Does anyone know why?
  • Julian from Oakland, ArJohnny Cash remained true to his word and named his son anythiong but Sue. Johnny Cash's son's name is John Carter.
  • Julian from Oakland, ArThe words that are beeped out are son of a bitch, and were beeped out because this was recorded for a TV show.
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiathe man in black ...singin' for the pope now
  • Chris from Auxvasse, NeAnyone know what words are beeped out at the end? I've always wondered what he was saying there. Call it morbid curiosity.
  • The Prynce from Dillon / Hamer, ScActually, how I heard it happened was Silverstein was at a party the night before with Cash and Carter and he sang it and gave it to Cash and Cash wasn't going to play it until he was convinced by his wife (or someone) to play it. He didn't even know many of the lyrics or the music. He had a copy of it on the floor when he was playing and he was reading from that.

    Gotta love this song, though. Silverstein was my idol when I was little. I used to love his book, "Where the Sidewalk Ends".

    -=The Prynce
  • Cale from Atlanta, GaJonny cash was not going to perform this song. It was presented to him right before he was to do a concert at a prison. His wife June Carter cash heard it and begged him to perform it live.

    He never even rehearsed it.. The first time he sang it.. is the version you hear.
  • Hetfield from Manchester, EnglandOne of the most clever and well written songs in history and complimented perfectly by johnnys voice

    if u like this, check out; My girl Bill, by Jim Stafford, alike in that its VERY cleverly written and is VERY deceptive

    Take a listen
  • Caitlin from Sailsbury, Nci love love love this song and johnny cash
  • Lauren from Maryville, MoI think the best part of this is the last line, because we're expecting he's going to carry on the tradition -- but NO!
  • Will from Portland, OrI always thought this song was kind of funny
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