You Never Even Called Me by My Name
Encyclopedia
"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is the title of a song written by Steve Goodman
and John Prine
, produced by Ron Bledsoe, and recorded by country music
singer David Allan Coe
. It was the third single
release of his career, included on his album Once Upon a Rhyme
. The song was Coe's first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard
country singles charts.
, pedal steel guitar
and electric guitar
. In the song, the narrator addresses a former lover, who has rejected him to the point that he considers it "useless to remain."
The song is most notable for its satirical
final verse, preceded by a recitation in which Coe explains that "a friend of [his] named Steve Goodman" wrote the song and considered it "the perfect country and western song." However, Coe told him that it was not the perfect country song because it "hadn't said anything at all about mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or getting drunk." Goodman then proceeded to add the final verse, incorporating all five of Coe's requirements, whereupon Coe agreed that now it was "the perfect country song."
Album Guide cites it as Coe's signature song
. Lost in the Grooves by Kim Cooper and David Smay said that "the joke [in the final verse] is funny, but the real key to the song's success is Coe's execution."
country singles charts, peaking at number eight.
recorded a cover version
on his second studio album, Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
. Supernaw's rendition features a guest vocal from Coe himself, as well as guest appearances by Waylon Jennings
, Merle Haggard
and Charley Pride
, all of whom are mentioned in the original song's second verse. It was the second single release from Supernaw's album.
of Entertainment Weekly
considered Supernaw's cover the "most interesting" cut on the album, but thought that it was in too high of a key
for the guest vocalists involved.
Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
and John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, produced by Ron Bledsoe, and recorded by country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
. It was the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release of his career, included on his album Once Upon a Rhyme
Once Upon a Rhyme
Once Upon a Rhyme is the fourth studio album by American country singer David Allan Coe. It was released in 1975 on Columbia.- Reception :...
. The song was Coe's first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country singles charts.
Content
"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is accompanied mainly by resonator guitarResonator guitar
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones instead of the wooden sound board . Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion...
, pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
and electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. In the song, the narrator addresses a former lover, who has rejected him to the point that he considers it "useless to remain."
The song is most notable for its satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
final verse, preceded by a recitation in which Coe explains that "a friend of [his] named Steve Goodman" wrote the song and considered it "the perfect country and western song." However, Coe told him that it was not the perfect country song because it "hadn't said anything at all about mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or getting drunk." Goodman then proceeded to add the final verse, incorporating all five of Coe's requirements, whereupon Coe agreed that now it was "the perfect country song."
Critical reception
In the book Whiteness: A Critical Reader, author Mike Hill cited the song as an example of Coe being the "'hardest' and most burlesque performer of recent times," adding that the "perverse hokiness" of the song's final verse made it "perfect." Irwin Stambler and Grelun Landon wrote in Country Music: The Encyclopedia that the song helped Coe gain recognition, as it was his first Top Ten hit, and The New Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Album Guide cites it as Coe's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. Lost in the Grooves by Kim Cooper and David Smay said that "the joke [in the final verse] is funny, but the real key to the song's success is Coe's execution."
Chart performance
"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" spent seventeen weeks on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country singles charts, peaking at number eight.
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 4 |
Doug Supernaw version
In 1994, Doug SupernawDoug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson "Doug" Supernaw is an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993, releasing his debut album that year.Supernaw has released four studio albums: Red and Rio Grande , Deep...
recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
on his second studio album, Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind
Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind is the second studio album from country music artist Doug Supernaw. It was released on Sep 13, 1994 and it produced the singles "What'll You Do About Me", "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" , and "State Fair"...
. Supernaw's rendition features a guest vocal from Coe himself, as well as guest appearances by Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
and Charley Pride
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis...
, all of whom are mentioned in the original song's second verse. It was the second single release from Supernaw's album.
Critical reception
Alanna NashAlanna Nash
Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer.Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
considered Supernaw's cover the "most interesting" cut on the album, but thought that it was in too high of a key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
for the guest vocalists involved.
Chart performance
This version spent seven weeks on the Billboard country charts, peaking at number 60. Only Supernaw was credited for it on the charts.| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 60 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 68 |