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Introduction
Echoes of the Heartland: Understanding “If That Ain’t Country”
Picture this: a song that feels like a warm, worn-in leather jacket—comforting, familiar, and rich with stories. That’s David Allan Coe’s “If That Ain’t Country.” It’s more than just a song; it’s an experience, a journey through the life and times of someone deeply rooted in the American South. Each chord strummed and every line sung carries the weight of real experiences and heartfelt emotions.
David Allan Coe, a master storyteller and a cornerstone of the outlaw country genre, uses his unique voice to tell a poignant story of family, hardships, and enduring American values in this song. It’s as if you’re sitting across from him at a family gathering, listening intently as he recounts tales of tough love, resilience, and the simple pleasures of life that are too often overlooked.
The charm of “If That Ain’t Country” lies in its raw authenticity. Coe’s lyrics transport listeners to a world where every hardship is a badge of honor and every small victory is a cause for celebration. The song speaks to those who find beauty in the struggle and who hold on to their roots with pride and joy.
Listeners are not just moved by the lyrics but are enveloped by the rich, soulful melodies that typify Coe’s music. The blend of traditional instruments with his gritty vocal delivery makes this song resonate with anyone who has a soft spot for genuine, unpolished musical storytelling.
Interesting Note:
Did you know that “If That Ain’t Country” reflects David Allan Coe’s own life experiences? His songs often draw from his personal journey, making them incredibly relatable and emotionally charged. This track, in particular, serves as a musical memoir of sorts, celebrating the culture and challenges of rural life.
Video
Lyrics
The old man was covered with tattoos and scars
He got some in prison and others in bars
The rest he got working on old junk cars
In the daytime
They looked like tombstones in our yard
And I never seen him when he wasn’t tired and mean
He sold used parts to make ends meet
Covered with grease from his head to his feet
Cussing the sweat and the Texas heat
And mosquitos
And the neighbors said we lived like hicks
But they brung their cars for pa to fix anyhow
He was veteran-proud, tried and true
He’d fought ’till his heart was black and blue
Didn’t know how he’d made it through the hard times
He bought our house on the G.I. bill
But it wasn’t worth all he had to kill to get it
He drank Pearl in a can and Jack Daniels black
Chewed tobacco from a mail pouch sack
Had an old dog that was trained to attack
Sometimes
He’d get drunk and mean as a rattlesnake
There wasn’t too much
That he would take from a stranger
There were thirteen kids and a bunch of dogs
A house full of chickens and a yard full of hogs
I spent the summertime cutting up logs for the winter
Tryin’ like the devil to find the lord
Workin’ like a nigger for my room and board
Coal-burnin’ stove, no natural gas
If that ain’t country, I’ll kiss your ass
If that ain’t country
It’ll hair lip the pope
If that ain’t country
It’s a damn good joke
I’ve seen the Grand Ole Opry
And I’ve met Johnny Cash
If that ain’t country
I’ll kiss your ass
Mama sells eggs at a grocery store
My oldest sister is a first-rate whore
Dad says she can’t come home anymore
He means it
Ma just sits and keeps her silence
Sister, she left ’cause dad got violent
And he knows it
Mama she’s old, far beyond her time
From chopping tobacco and I’ve seen her cryin’
When blood started flowin’ from her calloused hand
And it hurt me
She’d just keep working, tryin’ to help the old man
To the end of one row and back again like always
She’s been through hell since Junior went to jail
When the lights go out she ain’t never failed
To get down on her knees and pray
Because she loves him
Told all the neighbors he was off in the war
Fighting for freedom
He’s good to the core and she’s proud
Now our place was a graveyard for automobiles
At the end of the porch there was four stacks of wheels
And tires for sale for a dollar or two
Cash
There was fifty holes in an old tin roof
Me and my family we was living proof
The people who forgot about poor white trash
And if that ain’t country, I’ll kiss your ass
If that ain’t country
It’ll hair lip the pope
If that ain’t country
It’s a damn good joke
I’ve seen the Grand Ole Opry
And I’ve met Johnny Cash
If that ain’t country
I’ll kiss your ass
I’m thinking tonight of my blue eyes
Concerning the great speckled bird
I didn’t know god made honky-tonk angels
And went back to the wild side of life