06-18-2008, 12:12 AM
Aug 2, 2004.
Your recent article comparing me to Merle Haggard was uncalled for, full of lies, and total bullshit [Soundbites, July 21]. I'm disappointed in your treatment of me, a native Ohioan. To have stayed out of prison since 1967 and to have accomplished all I have accomplished is truly a miracle. I don't mind your criticisms. However, let's get the facts straight. I do not own or have anything to do with the more than 20 or so websites that use my name. I've never seen a website, and I'm not into selling any kind of merchandise, nor do I receive money for anything sold on these websites.
I've never sung or recorded any song in my life called "My Wife Ran Off With a Nigger" or "Nigger Hatin' Me." That is an outright lie. I wrote a song called "If That Ain't Country" with the line "Workin' like a nigger for my room and board," and I wrote a song called "Nigger Fuckers."
However, I have written songs for Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Kid Rock, and Uncle Kracker, along with many others. I own my own record label called Coe-Pop Records, which is based in Cleveland.
As for my Rebel guitar, it was given to me by Dimebag Darrell of Pantera for my 62nd birthday. Merle Haggard and I are friends, and had he shown up for this show, I'm sure he would have felt the same disgust I felt after reading your article.
David Allan Coe
ex-convict from Akron
Your recent article comparing me to Merle Haggard was uncalled for, full of lies, and total bullshit [Soundbites, July 21]. I'm disappointed in your treatment of me, a native Ohioan. To have stayed out of prison since 1967 and to have accomplished all I have accomplished is truly a miracle. I don't mind your criticisms. However, let's get the facts straight. I do not own or have anything to do with the more than 20 or so websites that use my name. I've never seen a website, and I'm not into selling any kind of merchandise, nor do I receive money for anything sold on these websites.
I've never sung or recorded any song in my life called "My Wife Ran Off With a Nigger" or "Nigger Hatin' Me." That is an outright lie. I wrote a song called "If That Ain't Country" with the line "Workin' like a nigger for my room and board," and I wrote a song called "Nigger Fuckers."
However, I have written songs for Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Kid Rock, and Uncle Kracker, along with many others. I own my own record label called Coe-Pop Records, which is based in Cleveland.
As for my Rebel guitar, it was given to me by Dimebag Darrell of Pantera for my 62nd birthday. Merle Haggard and I are friends, and had he shown up for this show, I'm sure he would have felt the same disgust I felt after reading your article.
David Allan Coe
ex-convict from Akron
