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The Surprising Story Behind Johnny Cash's 'A Boy Named Sue'
Wide Open Country ^ | I do not know | Jeremy Burchard

Posted on 04/16/2021 4:29:45 PM PDT by SamAdams76

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1 posted on 04/16/2021 4:29:45 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: SamAdams76
I always wondered why the boy named Sue didn't just change his name if it bothered him so much.

I used to work with a man named Linda. Now Linda is even a more feminine name for a boy to go with but he did not seem to mind. We called him "Lin" most of the time.

2 posted on 04/16/2021 4:31:34 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (By stealing Trump's second term, the Left gets Trump for 8 more years instead of just four.)
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To: SamAdams76

One of those songs whenever I hear it, it takes me back to where I was when I first heard it.


3 posted on 04/16/2021 4:31:48 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SamAdams76

I knew a guy named “Carroll” one time...
...named after his mothers maiden name...


4 posted on 04/16/2021 4:35:57 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: SamAdams76

I see too many boys named “Sue” these days.

He should never have sung it.


5 posted on 04/16/2021 4:39:44 PM PDT by nesnah (Liberals - the petulant children of politics)
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To: SamAdams76

6 posted on 04/16/2021 4:40:04 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
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To: nesnah

He didn’t call the boy sue to put him down or to mock his masculinity, he did it to toughen him up and see that he could stand up for himself with his dad not around.


7 posted on 04/16/2021 4:41:20 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity. )
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To: SamAdams76
Shel Silverstein, a noted poet, cartoonist, and humorist wrote the song after a conversation with his friend Jean Shepherd, who relayed his childhood dismay at being made fun of for what other kids perceived to be a "girl's name."

I wonder if that's the same Jean Shepherd who wrote "A Christmas Story".
8 posted on 04/16/2021 4:44:35 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: SamAdams76
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOHPuY88Ry4

Here is the live version at San Quentin.

Interesting knowing the story. You can see how he starts getting into the rhythm as he goes along.

9 posted on 04/16/2021 4:44:47 PM PDT by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful!)
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To: SamAdams76

My name is Sue. I was 20 years old when that song came out, working in a job that required me to introduce myself to customers.


10 posted on 04/16/2021 4:44:58 PM PDT by noexcuses
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To: SamAdams76
Lyrics
11 posted on 04/16/2021 4:45:15 PM PDT by The people have spoken (Proud member of Hillary's basket of deplorables)
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To: SamAdams76

Instead of enjoying the humor of the song, today’s generation would be asking what Sue’s pronouns are.


12 posted on 04/16/2021 4:45:43 PM PDT by farmguy
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To: SamAdams76

Meanwhile, in the laid back California town of sunny San Raphael...

https://youtu.be/ohFHsOBuLc4


13 posted on 04/16/2021 4:45:53 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: a fool in paradise

Ahem!


14 posted on 04/16/2021 4:47:37 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: AnotherUnixGeek

Yes, that would be the same Jean Shepherd.


15 posted on 04/16/2021 4:48:35 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (Der Impfstoff macht frei.)
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To: AnotherUnixGeek

I wonder if that’s the same Jean Shepherd who wrote “A Christmas Story”

+++++++++++

Yes, it is. I didn’t know who Shepherd was until I had seen the movie a couple of times and noticed the name on the credits and decided to look up who “she” was.


16 posted on 04/16/2021 4:49:58 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
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To: SamAdams76

I once asked my dad why he gave me my name and he quoted this song...to make me tough. True story.

Respectfully,
Boogernose

...I won’t post my real name here. The origin is from another country. Got in many fistfights over my name and dad was right. It made me tougher. Today, I wear it honorably and am pleased to no end when I meet someone from the countries of origin who know how to and do pronounce it with delight, as it takes them and me back home.

There is no sweeter word in all of a person’s native language than to hear one’s own name spoken by another with kindness.


17 posted on 04/16/2021 4:50:20 PM PDT by SheepWhisperer (My enemy saw me on my knees, head bowed and thought they had won until I rose up and said Amen!)
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To: Repeal The 17th

There was a guy named “Shirley” where I used to work. When I was in high school, there were twin black girls named Johnny and Michael, and also a boy named “Coke”.


18 posted on 04/16/2021 4:52:15 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (Der Impfstoff macht frei.)
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To: SamAdams76

There’s a congressman named Linda.


19 posted on 04/16/2021 4:53:55 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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To: Yogafist

Those lyrics seem to stretch for miles.
I’ll come back to it later for a closer look.


20 posted on 04/16/2021 4:54:14 PM PDT by lee martell
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