Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics

You Don't Even Call Me By My Name

You Don't Even Call Me By My Name
(Steve Goodman)

C G
It was all that I could do
C
to keep from cryin'
F C
sometimes it seems so useless to remain
F C
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'
G C
You never even call me by my name.
C G C
You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings
C G C
And you don't have to call me Charlie Pride.
F C Am
You don't have to call me Merle Haggard, anymore.
D G
Even though your on my fightin' side.

CHORUS
F C
And I'll hang around as long as you will let me
G
And I never minded standin' in the rain.
F C
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'
G C
You never even call me by my name.


I've heard my name a few times in your phone book
I've seen it on signs where I've laid
But the only time I know, I'll hear David Allan Coe
Is when Jesus has his final judgement day.

(enter now the Steve Goodman story. The first half is played
with a background of C and G. Just before Steve writes back
with the perfect Country and Western song, it is just a straight
background C chord.)

Well, I was drunk the day my Mom got outta prison.
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But, before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train.

So I'll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standin' in the rain. No,
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'
C G F C
You never even call me, I wonder why you don't call me
F C G C F C
Why don't you ever call me by my name.

Performed by: David Allan Coe
SX
Apr98