https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:56:13 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-94641 Sun, 20 Mar 2005 20:16:52 +0000 http://www.johnnycash.com/songclips/boynamedsue.wav]]> Easy Songs Val https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-94641 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-94609 Sun, 20 Mar 2005 15:30:38 +0000
Just thought I'd suggest it.]]> Easy Songs Curly https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-94609 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-3612 Tue, 07 Sep 2004 14:37:24 +0000
I am hoping that some of you might be able to help me out. My son just loves this song and its his birthday soon, I would love to be able to replicate how Johnny Cash plays this. Please can someone give me a bit of help with this, I know the chords but how does he play it, straight boom chucka or is there some other way?

Your advice is much appreciated. Anyway for those that want to have a go at this great song it goes like this. Chord changes are the same as verse 1 all the way through (unless someone can correct me on that?)

G
My daddy left home when I was three
..........C
And he didn't leave much to Ma and me
......... D................................................G
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
G
Now, I don't 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.'


Well, he must o' thought that is was 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 me a vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man that give 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 gonna die!"

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 know I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said good-bye
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 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'.'

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 come 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! I still hate that name!

Cheers

Matt

]]> Easy Songs mattguitar https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/big-favour-re-sons-birthday-cashs-boy-named-sue/#post-3612