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A Boy Named Sue

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Song: A Boy Named Sue
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Capo on 1st fret
[Verse 1]
AMy daddy left home when I was three
DAnd he didn't leave much to ma and me
EJust this old guitar and an empty bottle of Abooze.
ANow, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
DBut the meanest thing that he ever did
EWas before he left, he went and named me "ASue."
[Verse 2]
AWell, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
DAnd it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,
EIt seems I had to fight my whole life Athrough.
ASome gal would giggle and I'd get red
DAnd some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
I tell ya, Elife ain't easy for a boy named "ASue."
[Verse 3]
AWell, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
DMy fist got hard and my wits got keen,
EI'd roam from town to town to hide my Ashame.
ABut I made a vow to the moon and stars
DThat I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
EAnd kill that man who gave me that awful Aname.
[Verse 4]
AWell, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
DAnd I just hit town and my throat was dry,
EI thought I'd stop and have myself a Abrew.
AAt an old saloon on a street of mud,
DThere at a table, dealing stud,
ESat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "ASue."
[Verse 5]
AWell, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
DFrom a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
EAnd I knew that scar on his cheek and his Aevil eye.
AHe was big and bent and gray and old,
DAnd I looked at him and my blood ran cold
EAnd I said: "My name is 'Sue!' AHow do you do!
Now you gonna die!!"
[Verse 6]
AWell, I hit him hard right between the eyes
DAnd he went down, but to my surprise,
EHe come up with a knife and cut off a Apiece of my ear.
ABut I busted a chair right across his teeth
DAnd we crashed through the wall and into the street
EKicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and Athe beer.
[Verse 7]
AI tell ya, I've fought tougher men
DBut I really can't remember when,
EHe kicked like a mule and he bit like a Acrocodile.
AI heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
DHe went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
EHe stood there lookin' at me and I saw him Asmile.
[Verse 8]
AAnd he said: "Son, this world is rough
DAnd if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
EAnd I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya Aalong.
ASo I give ya that name and I said goodbye
DI knew you'd have to get tough or die
EAnd it's the name that helped to make you Astrong."
[Verse 9]
AHe said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
DAnd I know you hate me, and you got the right
ETo kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you Ado.
ABut ya ought to thank me, before I die,
DFor the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
ECause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "ASue.'"
[Verse 10]
AI got all choked up and I threw down my gun
DAnd I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
EAnd I came away with a different point of Aview.
AAnd I think about him, now and then,
DEvery time I try and every time I win,
[No Chords]
                A (keep strumming)

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

This song tells the story of a young man who seeks revenge on his father for abandoning him and giving him a feminine name, "Sue." The name caused him a lifetime of ridicule and forced him to grow up tough. The narrative follows his journey to confront his father, leading to a dramatic brawl and an unexpected revelation about the father's intentions. It's a tale of hardship, resilience, and the complicated nature of a parent's love.

AI-written from these sources:A Boy Named Sue — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

A Boy Named Sue

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Song: A Boy Named Sue

Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)

Capo on 1st fret

[Verse 1]

My daddy left home when I was three

And he didn't leave much to ma and me

E A

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

E A

Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."

[Verse 2]

Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke

And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,

E A

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,

E A

I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue."

[Verse 3]

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,

My fist got hard and my wits got keen,

E A

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

E A

And kill that man who gave me that awful name.

[Verse 4]

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July

And I just hit town and my throat was dry,

E A

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,

E A

Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."

[Verse 5]

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad

From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,

E A

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

E A

And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do!

Now you gonna die!!"

[Verse 6]

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes

And he went down, but to my surprise,

E A

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

E A

Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

[Verse 7]

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men

But I really can't remember when,

E A

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,

E A

He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

[Verse 8]

And he said: "Son, this world is rough

And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough

E A

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

E A

And it's the name that helped to make you strong."

[Verse 9]

He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight

And I know you hate me, and you got the right

E A

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

E A

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

[Verse 10]

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun

And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,

E A

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,

[No Chords]

A (keep strumming)

About A Boy Named Sue Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Boy Named Sue chords”, “A Boy Named Sue guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash A Boy Named Sue chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy A Boy Named Sue chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Boy Named Sue lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E.

FAQ — A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash

How do I play "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "A Boy Named Sue" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "A Boy Named Sue" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "A Boy Named Sue"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "A Boy Named Sue" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "A Boy Named Sue" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "A Boy Named Sue" in?

The chords for "A Boy Named Sue" show the original chord names (including A, D, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.