A BRUH NAMED SUE (lyrics revised)
(Original lyrics written by Shel Silverstein ©1969)


Well my pops left home when I was three
And he didn’t leave much for moms and me
Just my raw talent and an empty bottle of booze
Now I don’t blame him cuz he run and he hid
But the meanest thing that my pops ever did
Was before he cut-out, 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 lots of folks
Seems I had to battle my whole life through
Some chic would giggle and I’d get red
Some fool would laugh and then I’d bust his head
I tell ya life ain’t easy for a brotha named Sue
Well I grew up quick and I grew up mean
My fists got hard and my wits got keen
I roamed from spot to spot just to hide my shame
But I made me a vow to the moon and the stars
I’d search out the hideaways and bars
And kill that man that gimme that God-awful name
Well it was North Chicago in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry
I’d thought I’d chill and throw down just a few
In a darkened spot where I had roamed
There at a table shufflin’ bones
Sat the dirty punk-ass fool who named me Sue
Well I knew that lame was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out photo that my momma had
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye
He was big and bent and grey and old
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold and I said
“My name is Sue! What’s up with you?”
Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down but to my surprise
He come up with a blade and cut off a piece of my ear

Then I busted a chair right across his teeth
Then we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kickin’ and a-gougin’ in the mud and the blood and the beer
I tell you I fought tougher men
But I really can’t remember when
He kicked like Bruce and bit like a crocodile
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss
Then he went for his piece but I pulled mine first
Then he stood there lookin’ at me and I saw him smile
And he said, “Now, son, this world is rough
And if a man’s gonna make it he gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help you along.
So I gave 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 this strong.
Now you just fought one helluva 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 oughta thank me before I die
For the gravel in your fists and the glint in your eye
Cuz I’m the son of a bitch that named you Sue.”
Well, I got choked up and threw down my gun
I called him pops and he called me son
And I come away with a different point of view
And I think about him every now and then
Every time that I fight and every time I win
And if I ever have a son, I think I’m gonna name him
Bill or Jim or Bob! Anything damn thing but Sue, fo’real.