Key:
Introduction:
E A
Country music singers have been a real close family,
B7 E
But lately some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and me.
A
I guess it's because I kind of changed my direction.
B7 E
Lord I guess I went and broke their family tradition.
E A
They get on me and want to know Hank why do you drink? Why do you roll smoke?
B7 E
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
A
Over and over everybody makes my predictions.
B7 E
So if I get stoned, I'm just carrying on an old family tradition.
E A
I am very proud of my daddy's name
B7 E
All though his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the same.
A
Stop and think it over. Put yourself in my position.
B7 E
If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family tradition.
E A
So don't ask me, Hank why do you drink? Hank, why do you roll smoke?
B7 E
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
A
If I'm down in a honky-tonk some ole slick's trying to give me friction.
B7 E
I said leave me alone I'm singing all night long it's a family tradition.
E A
Lord I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam
B7 E
And they both tried to kill me in 1973.
A
When that doctor asked me, Son how did you get in this condition?
B7 E
I said, hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on an ole family tradition.
E A
So don't ask me, Hank why do you drink? Hank, why do you roll smoke?
B7 E
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
A
Stop and think it over, try and put yourself in my unique position.
B7 E
If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family tradition