About the song

Introducing “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” by David Allan Coe, a classic country song that resonates with heartfelt emotion and raw honesty. Featured on Coe’s album “Once Upon a Rhyme,” this track showcases his unique storytelling ability and soulful vocals.

Written by Steve Goodman and John Prine, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” is a poignant reflection on love lost and the pain of feeling unrecognized. Despite its initial release in 1975, the song gained popularity when David Allan Coe recorded it for his album, becoming a hit in 1976.

While “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” didn’t reach the top of the charts, it earned a special place in the hearts of country music fans, with its relatable lyrics and heartfelt delivery striking a chord with listeners.

David Allan Coe’s rendition of this song showcases his talent for conveying raw emotion and storytelling through music, earning him acclaim as one of country music’s most influential artists.

With its timeless themes and soul-stirring melody, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” continues to resonate with audiences, reminding us of the power of music to evoke deep emotions and connect us to shared experiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan of David Allan Coe or discovering this song for the first time, its heartfelt lyrics and soulful performance are sure to leave a lasting impression.

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Lyrics

Well, it was all
That I could do to keep from crying’
Sometimes it seemed so useless to remain
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’
You never even called me by my name
You don’t have to call me Waylon Jennings
And you don’t have to call me Charlie Pride
And you don’t have to call me Merle Haggard anymore
Even though you’re on my fighting’ side
And I’ll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standing’ in the rain
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’
You never even called me by my name
Well, I’ve heard my name
A few times in your phone book (hello, hello)
And I’ve seen it on signs where I’ve played
But the only time I know
I’ll hear “David Allan Coe”
Is when Jesus has his final judgment day
So I’ll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standing’ in the rain
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’
You never even called me by my name
Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song
And he told me it was the perfect country & western song
I wrote him back a letter and I told him it was not the perfect country & western song
Because he hadn’t said anything at all about mama
Or trains, or trucks, or prison, or getting’ drunk
Well, he sat down and wrote another verse to the song and he sent it to me
And after reading it I realized that my friend had written the perfect country & western song
And I felt obliged to include it on this album
The last verse goes like this here
Well, I was drunk the day my mom got out of 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 run over by a damned old train
And I’ll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standing’ in the rain, no
But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’
You never even called me
Well, I wonder why you don’t call me
Why don’t you ever call me by my name