About the song
A match made in storytelling heaven. Cash, a man synonymous with American grit and the outlaw spirit, perfectly embodies the tale of a boy named Sue, a narrative as unique as it is unforgettable.
This iconic song, penned by the legendary songwriter Shel Silverstein, wasn’t originally intended for Cash. Silverstein himself recorded the track, but it was Cash’s powerful rendition, particularly the live version from his 1969 album At San Quentin, that truly cemented the song’s place in music history.
The sparse, yet powerful, setting of San Quentin State Prison adds another layer of depth to the performance. Cash, facing a captivated audience of inmates, many of whom likely harbored their own tales of hardship and resilience, delivers the song with a gravitas that transcends the humorous nature of the lyrics.
A Boy Named Sue is more than just a catchy tune. It’s a character study, a coming-of-age story wrapped in a country ballad. It explores themes of masculinity, identity, and the complex relationship between fathers and sons.
The song opens with a stark image: a young boy abandoned by his father who leaves behind “an empty bottle of booze” and “this old guitar.” This sets the stage for a life marked by hardship, a life forever colored by the unusual name “Sue.”
The narrator, now a grown man, recounts the taunts and ridicule he endured throughout his childhood. The name “Sue,” traditionally a feminine name, became a constant source of shame and a catalyst for the boy’s rage. He vows to find his father, not out of love, but for a singular purpose: revenge.
Cash’s deep baritone perfectly captures the simmering anger and simmering confusion within the protagonist. The song takes a surprising turn when the narrator finally confronts his father, a confrontation fueled by years of pent-up frustration.
The father, a weathered man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, doesn’t deny his actions. He explains his reasoning – he wanted his son to be tough, to be able to stand up to bullies, a quality he believed a name like “Sue” wouldn’t inspire.
The revelation forces the narrator to confront his own preconceived notions of masculinity. The song’s climax doesn’t involve violence, but a moment of unexpected tenderness. The confrontation becomes a bridge between father and son, a bridge built on understanding and, perhaps, a grudging respect.
A Boy Named Sue is a masterclass in storytelling. Silverstein’s witty lyrics, laced with dark humor and poignant observations, are brought to life by Cash’s masterful delivery. The song resonates with anyone who has ever grappled with questions of identity, wrestled with the complexities of family relationships, or dared to be different. It’s a reminder that true strength isn’t defined by a name, but by the choices we make and the battles we choose to fight.
Video
Lyrics
“A Boy Named Sue”
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 o’ thought that is quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a’ lots of folk,
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,
I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named “Sue”.
Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
I’d roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made me a vow to the moon and stars
That I’d search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man who 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’d 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’re 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 wall and into the street
Kicking and a’ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.
I tell ya, 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,
He went for his gun and 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 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
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong.”
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 ya 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’.”
Well, what could I do, what could I do?
I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
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,
And if I ever have a son, I think I’m gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!