Well, my daddy left home when I was three,
and he didn’t leave much to Ma and me,
just this old guitar and a bottle of booze.
Now I don’t blame him because 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 have thought it was quite a joke,
and it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks,
it seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I’d get red
and some guy would laugh and I’d bust his head,
I tell you, 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.
Roamed from town to town to hide my shame,
but I made me a vow to the moon and the stars,
I’d search the honky tonks and bars and kill
that man that gave me that awful name.
But it was Gatlinburg in mid July and I had
just hit town and my throat was dry.
I’d thought i’d stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon in a street of mud
and 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 had
and I knew the 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 right between the eyes and he went down
but to my surprise he came 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 you I’ve fought tougher men but I really can’t remember when.
He kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laughin’ and then I heard him cussin’,
he went for his gun and I pulled mine first.
He stood there looking 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 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.”
Yeah, he said, “Now you have just fought one
helluva fight, and I know you hate me and you’ve
got the right to kill me now and I wouldn’t blame you
if you do. But you ought to thank me
before I die for the gravel in your guts and the spit
in your eye because I’m the nut that named you Sue.”
Yeah, what could I do? What could I do?
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun,
called him pa and he called me a son,
and I came away with a different point of view
and I think about him now and then.
Every time I tried, every time I win and if I
ever have a son I think I am gonna name him
Bill or George – anything but Sue.
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I love johnny cash and shel silverstein. They are both genuises.
I love This song it is awesome!!!I love johnny cash, i had sex with him onr time and it was amazing!!!! To bad he isn’t here now.
This is a great poem/song. It’s one of my favorites by Johnny Cash. You also have many other awesome poems!
Dude this poem is awesome i can’t belive you wrote it it’s my favorite song by johnny cash!!!!
I love this poem. I chose it to memorize to recite to the class.
I LOVE this song!!!!!! I love Jhonny Cash and his music. I always listen to it. I am so glad that this was posted. I always go on this to check it out and I love to see this Jhonny Cash song!!!!!!!!!
This is a great poem/song.Did you know that there is a second part. it’s written from dad’s point of view. v. funny. my fav shel poem though is called “the world’s greatest smoke off” if you are a choofa, check it out. some great references to the ‘herb’. Let me know how ya go.
I memorized this poem for poetry day and i did great, it is a great poem- woo!! lol!! hehe
I thought the poem was good. I’ve never heard the song though.
The poem is great! Why is the slang, and to some offensive words needed?
If the reader, or listener to the song can’t get the drift, and interpit to his/her own notions, then they have missed the whole picture.
The cursing, slang, etc. is just a “fill” for lack of vocabulary. If you don’t get that….take some language classes.
Oh, BTW…I’m not offended personally, and ain’t going to preach…this is just my opinion. (Yes…”ain’t” is not good English…right? 😉
A poem anyone (or nearly) who reads or listens to the song by Johnny Cash can relate to. Very heartfelt and down to the nitty gritty.
It’s one of those rare poems that has real soul..and Johnny did it great justice.
Thanks, Shel and Johnny. Great team.
I loved it
Im a very big fan of Jony Cash so I really enhoyed it.
I really like this poem however, I can’t believe you changed the wrods from ” mother fucker” to “nut”. You are changing a classic.
I didnt know Shel Silverstein had died!! I’m writng a schoo paper on him and i found this so far the most informative. I may be only 14 but i can appretiate the talents of those who posses it, Shel Siverstein did. I hope more people can enjoy his work. This site is helping to pass on his stories and let the children who didnt grow up in his time still grow up with his stories, thank you.
I really thought this poem was cute! Espesially cuz it was made into a song. Although “A Boy Named Sue” is a strange name for a poem. I love Johnny Cash though.
I also like Johnny Cash. My Grandmother has his records and I heard the song and later I looked up the poem. Shel Silverstein is an awsome song writter and now I listen to his songs all the time
I love his poems and everything….BUT….i never knew that he died…lol well jus thought that i’d leave a comment….byee oh yes i love johnny cash also!!!!!!!
i grew up to johnny cah and im still quite young but no matter what his song wll never get old.I am 13 years ld and I’m proud to admit that i love all music includinggood old Johnny C. R.I.P.Johnny Cash and may your music live on with peaceful notes.
This poem us awsoem i never knew that shel wrote it. Im a big fan of johnny and not really reading poems but now im gonna read more of shels cause he wrote this great one