Written By David Allan Coe/ Fred Spears
Recitation:
THE OLD MAN WAS COVERED WITH TATTOOS AND SCARS
HE GOT SOME IN PRISON AND OTHERS IN BARS
THE REST HE GOT WORKING` ON OLD JUNK CARS
IN THE DAYTIME
THEY LOOKED LIKE TOMBSTONES IN OUR YARD
AND I NEVER SEEN HIM WHEN HE WASN`T TIRED AND MEAN
HE SOLD USED PARTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET
COVERED WITH GREASE FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FEET
CUSSING` THE SWEAT AND THE TEXAS HEAT
AND MESQUITES
AND THE NEIGHBORS SAID WE LIVED LIKE HICKS
BUT THEY BRUNG THEIR CARS FOR PA TO FIX ANYHOW
HE WAS VETERAN-PROUD, TRIED AND TRUE
HE`D FOUGHT TILL HIS HEART WAS BLACK AND BLUE
DIDN`T KNOW HOW HE`D MADE IT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES
HE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE ON THE G.I. BILL
BUT IT WASN`T WORTH ALL HE HAD TO KILL TO GET IT
HE DRANK PEARL IN A CAN AND JACK DANIELS BLACK
CHEWED TOBACCO FROM A MAIL POUCH SACK
HAD AN OLD DOG THAT WAS TRAINED TO ATTACK
SOMETIMES
HE`D GET DRUNK AND MEAN AS A RATTLESNAKE
AND THERE WASN`T TOO MUCH
THAT HE WOULD TAKE FROM A STRANGER
THERE WERE THIRTEEN KIDS AND A BUNCH OF DOGS
A HOUSE FULL OF CHICKENS AND A YARD FULL OF HOGS
I SPENT THE SUMMERTIME CUTTING` UP LOGS FOR THE WINTER
TRYING` LIKE THE DEVIL TO FIND THE LORD
WORKING` LIKE A NIGGER FOR MY ROOM AND BOARD
COAL-BURIN` STOVE, NO NATURAL GAS
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, I`LL KISS YOUR ASS
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY,
IT`LL HAIR LIP THE POPE
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, IT`S A DAMN GOOD JOKE
I`VE SEEN THE GRAND OLE OPRY,
AND I`VE MET JOHNNY CASH
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, I`LL KISS YOUR ASS
RECITATION:
MAMA SELLS EGGS AT A GROCERY STORE
MY OLDEST SISTER IS A FIRST-RATE WHORE
DAD SAYS SHE CAN`T COME HOME ANYMORE
AND HE MEANS IT
MA JUST SITS AND KEEPS HER SILENCE
SISTER, SHE LEFT `CAUSE DAD GOT VIOLENT
AND HE KNOWS IT
MAMA SHE`S OLD FAR BEYOND HER TIME
FROM CHOPPING TOBACCO AND I`VE SEEN HER CRYING`
WHEN BLOOD STARTED FLOWING` FROM HER CALLOUSED HAND AND
IT HURT ME
SHE`D JUST KEEP WORKING` TRYING` TO HELP THE OLD MAN
TO THE END OF ONE ROW AND BACK AGAIN LIKE ALWAYS
SHE`S BEEN THROUGH HELL SINCE JUNIOR WENT TO JAIL
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT SHE AIN`T NEVER FAILED
TO GET DOWN ON HER KNEES AND PRAY
BECAUSE SHE LOVES HIM
TOLD ALL THE NEIGHBORS HE WAS OFF IN THE WAR
FIGHTING` FOR FREEDOM,
HE`S GOOD TO THE CORE AND SHE`S PROUD
NOW OUR PLACE WAS A GRAVEYARD FOR AUTOMOBILES
AT THE END OF THE PORCH THERE WAS FOUR STACKS OF WHEELS
AND TIRES FOR SALE FOR A DOLLAR OR TWO
CASH
THERE WAS FIFTY HOLES IN AN OLD TIN ROOF
ME AND MY FAMILY WE WAS LIVING` PROOF
THE PEOPLE WHO FORGOT ABOUT POOR WHITE TRASH
AND IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, I`LL KISS YOUR ASS
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, IT`LL HAIR LIP THE POPE
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, IT`S A DAMN GOOD JOKE
I`VE SEEN THE GRAND OLE OPRY,
AND I`VE MET JOHNNY CASH
IF THAT AIN`T COUNTRY, I`LL KISS YOUR ASS
I`M THINKING TONIGHT OF MY BLUE EYES
CONCERNING THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD
I DIDN`T KNOW GOD MADE HONKY-TONK ANGELS
AND WENT BACK TO THE WILD SIDE OF LIFE
