A Boy Named Sue

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[Verse 1]
D
Well my daddy left home when I was three
G
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
A D
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
D
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
G
But the meanest thing that he ever did
A D
Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."
[Verse 2]
D
Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
G
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,
A D
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
D
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
G
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
A D
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue."
[Verse 3]
D
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
G
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
A D
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
D
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
G
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
A D
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.
[Verse 4]
D
Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
G
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
A D
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
D
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
G
There at a table, dealing stud,
A D
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."
[Verse 5]
D
Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
G
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
A D
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
D
He was big and bent and gray and old,
G
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
A D
And I said: "My name is 'Sue! ' How do you do!
Now your gonna die!! "
[Verse 6]
D
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
G
And he went down, but to my surprise,
A D
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
D
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
G
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
A D
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.
[Verse 7]
D
I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
G
But I really can't remember when,
A D
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
D
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
G
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
A D
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.
[Verse 8]
D
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
G
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
A D
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
D
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
G
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
A D
And it's the name that helped to make you strong. "
[Verse 9]
D
He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
G
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
A D
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
D
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
G
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
A D
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"
[Verse 10]
D
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
G
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
A D
And I came away with a different point of view.
D
And I think about him, now and then,
G
Every time I try and every time I win,
N.C.
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
D
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

A Boy Named Sue chords and lyrics

Free chords for A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Verse 1]
[Verse 2]
[Verse 3]
[Verse 4]
[Verse 5]
Now your gonna die!! "
[Verse 6]
[Verse 7]
[Verse 8]
[Verse 9]
[Verse 10]
N.C.
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him

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 D, G, A, C.

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What key is "A Boy Named Sue" in?

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