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January 25, 2006
Expletive deleted
Over the past couple of years, I've developed quite an affinity for Johnny Cash. His particular brand of outlaw/drinkin/train/I miss someone songs always struck a chord with me.
And who can forget his raucous recording of Shel Silverstein's A Boy Named Sue? Every version I hear of this song goes through the whole thing, until it gets to the point where Sue's dad says, "and I'm the BEEEEEEEEP! who named you Sue." I always wondered what could Johnny have said that would earn such a long, drawn out beep?
I finally got my answer, and I was disappointed. I picked up At San Quentin CD a few days ago, and it boasted that it was live and completely uncensored, including A Boy Named Sue. I thought to myself, yes! I will finally get to hear what Johnny said. The song came near the end of the CD, and my anticipation reached new highs as he got to the offending verse.
Know what it is? "I'm the son of a bitch who named you Sue." Son of a bitch? That's it? I was completely underwhelmed. I mean, 1969 may have been a different time in America, but I had no idea that Son of a bitch would have earned such a definitive beeping. I thought it would be something better, like "I'm the motherfucker that named you Sue," or "the asshole" or "shithead" or something. But son of a bitch? Geez. I think now that I know what he actually said, I would've preferred to keep the beeped version, and let my imagination run wild.
Posted by oz115 at January 25, 2006 02:04 PM