Shannon’s Perspective:
I love that the reason this song made the list is because Larry has a special memory of he and Connor when he hears it. I've always enjoyed the song, not as much as some of his others, but I still enjoy it and now I have another reason to.
I have a very distinct memory of this song, and it's not the first time I heard it. It's the first time Connor heard it. I will never, ever be able to listen to this song again without the joy of this memory.
It was just one of those moments when Connor was really present in that moment, really concentrating on hearing the story that was being told in the song, and then laughing his ass off at the end. I'm pretty sure it was the very first Johnny Cash song that he ever heard.
Yes it's a great Johnny Cash song. Made even sweeter by a special memory of me and my son enjoying it...
A Boy Named Sue
Johnny Cash
Well, my daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
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
Was before he left, he went and named me Sue
Well, he must've thought that it was quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a lots of folk
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 you, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue
But 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 stars
I'd search the honky tonks and bars
And kill that man that gave 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 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", yeah, that's what I told him
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 walls and into the street
Kicking and a-gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer
Well, I tell you, 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
And he went for his gun but 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 you along
So I give 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 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 you 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"
Yeah, well What could I do? What could I do?
Well, I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
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'll think I'm gonna name him - Bill or George any damn thing but Sue!
30th Anniversary
Our Story - Shannon's Perspective
Our Story - Larry's Perspective
Ghost of a Chance (Rush) and why?
Ghost of a Chance 