#A boy named sue song writer series#

Not to mention that he happened to be friends with Johnny Cash. In addition to penning a great deal of work for Playboy, Silverstein was a Renaissance man of sorts: along with being a poet and artist, he was also a prolific songwriter. (Your 4th-grade teacher probably didn't mention that.) Hugh Hefner sent Shel Silverstein all over the world so he could write an entertaining and satirical column on the most interesting people he could find from sea to shining sea. The guy was a regular contributing writer for Playboy during its first decade of existence, believe it or not. What you may not know about Shel Silverstein is that he also made quite a name for himself in the adult world. Wait.Shel Silverstein? You probably remember him from the 4th grade, when you probably first read 'A Light in the Attic,' 'Falling Up,' or 'Where the Sidewalk Ends.' His poetry collections and trademark black and white sketches have captured the imaginations of people of all ages, making Silverstein a cultural icon for children's poetry. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein were all homies during the Modernist poetry movement Monet and Renoir sipped French coffee together at the peak of Impressionism and in the 1950s in America, Neil Simon, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Shel Silverstein, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash used to kick it every now and then. The sestina is composed of seven stanzas.Isn't it interesting how great artists, writers, and musicians of every major movement somehow seem to end up becoming friends with each other?

#A boy named sue song writer series#

It was later adopted by Francesco Petrarch who composed a series of sestinas he called Canzone. I got all choked up and I threw down my gun,Īnd I came away with a different point of viewĮvery time I tried, every time I win and if IĮver have a son I think I am gonna name himĪ Garret Poet To the TriadForm: Italian Sonnet Thou touched this heart of mine with moonlit songas I redeemed my soul in love divine,and sipped thy blood that is the blesséd winemy pledge, renewed, to serve thee stays strong.Oh Goddess, Queen of dark and light, I prayfor eyes to see… TestimonialĪ Garret Poet TestimonialForm: Italian Sonnet The darkest winter cannot hide Her light,even when the coldest winds begin to blowHer love shall shelter me from drifting snowShe is the star to bring my eyes their sight.It is Her hand that leads me through the night,and it’s Her kiss that leaves… Sestina NotesĬonsidered a difficult form to master, the Sestina was created by Arnaut Daniel, a mathematician, and poet in the twelfth century. In your eye because I’m the nut that named you Sue.” Got the right to kill me now and I wouldn’t blame youīefore I die for the gravel in your guts and the spit Helluva fight, and I know you hate me and you’ve Yeah, he said, “Now you have just fought one That name that helped to make you strong.” So I gave you that name and I said ‘Goodbye’. He stood there looking at me and I saw him smile.Īnd he said, “Son, this world is rough and ifĪ man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be toughĪnd I knew I wouldn’t be there to help you along. He went for his gun and I pulled mine first. I heard him laughin’ and then I heard him cussin’, He kicked like a mule and bit like a crocodile. I tell you I’ve fought tougher men but I really can’t remember when. The wall and into the street kicking and a-gouging Well, I hit him right between the eyes and he went downīut to my surprise he came up with a knifeĪnd cut off a piece of my ear. Now you’re gonna die.” Yeah, that’s what I told him. Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dadįrom a worn-out picture that my mother hadĪnd I knew the scar on his cheek and his evil eye.Īnd I looked at him and my blood ran cold,Īnd I said, “My name is Sue. I’d thought i’d stop and have myself a brew.Īnd at a table dealing stud sat the dirty, I’d search the honky tonks and bars and killīut it was Gatlinburg in mid July and I had Roamed from town to town to hide my shame,īut I made me a vow to the moon and the stars, Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean. I tell you, life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue. It seems I had to fight my whole life through.Īnd some guy would laugh and I’d bust his head, Well, he must have thought it was quite a joke,Īnd it got lots of laughs from a lot of folks, Now I don’t blame him because he run and hid,īut the meanest thing that he ever did was Just this old guitar and a bottle of booze. Well, my daddy left home when I was three,