Week Eleven - Day Three (Wednesday)
I've spent the last two days singing my way through Johnny Cash's songs. Somehow, this one ended up getting recorded, so I figured I should share.
And clearly it's dedicated to you, Rodney.
The video begins with John sitting on his bed, wearing all black. There's a swell of music and he sings
Well, my daddy left home When I was three And he didn't leave very much to my ma and me Except this ole guitar and An empty bottle of booze Now I don't blame him 'Cause he run and hid But the meanest thing that my daddy ever did Was before he left he wanted to Name me Sue Meredith He musta thought That it was quite a joke And it got a lot of laughs from lots a folks Seems I had to fight my whole life through Some gal would giggle and I'd turn red And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head I'll tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue Meredith Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean My fist got hard and my wits got keen Roamed from town to town To hide my shame But I made me a vow to the moon and stars I'd search the honky-tonks and bars And kill that man that gave Me that awful name Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July And I'd 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 dealin' stud Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me Sue Meredith Well I knew that snake was my own sweet dad From a worn out picture that my mother had Knew that scar on His cheek and his evil eye He was big and bent and grey and old And I looked at him and my Blood ran cold, and I said "My name is Sue Meredith! How do you do? Now you gonna die!" Well, I hit him hard right Between the eyes And he went down but to my surprise Came up with a knife and Cut off a piece of my ear Then I busted a chair right across his teeth And we crashed through The wall and into the street Kickin' and a gougin' in the mud And the blood and the beer Well 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 And he reached for his gun but 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 know I wouldn't be There to help you along So I gave you that name And I said goodbye I knew you'd have to get tough or die And it's that name that helped To make you strong." He said, "Now you just fought One heck of a fight And I know you hate me And ya got the right To kill me now and I wouldn't Blame you if you do But you oughta thank me before I die For the gravel in your gut And the spit in the eye 'Cause I'm the - That named you Sue Meredith." Yeah, what could I do? I got all choked up and threw down my gun 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 boy I'll name him Bill or George or Frank Anything dam thing but Sue Meredith! Hate that name
When the song ends, John sighs heavily and shakes his head