Country music singers
Have always been a real close family
But lately some of my kinfolks
Have disowned a few others and me
I guess its because
I kinda changed my direction
Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition
They get on me and want to know
Hank, why do you drink?
Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Over and over
Everybody makes my prediction
So if I get stoned, Im just carrying on
An old family tradition
I am very proud
Of my daddys name
Although his kind of music
And mine aint exactly the same
Stop and think it over
Put yourself in my position
If I get stoned and sing all night long
Its a family tradition
So dont ask me
Hank, why do you drink?
Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
If Im down in a honky-tonk
And some ole slicks trying to give me friction
Ill say leave me alone
Im singing all night long
Its a family tradition
Lordy, I have loved some ladies
And I have loved Jim Beam
And they both tried to kill me in 1973
When that doctor asked me
Son, how did you get in this condition?
I said, Hey, Sawbones
Im just carrying on an ole family tradition
So dont ask me
Hank, why do you drink?
Hank, why do roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Stop and think it over
Try to put yourself in my unique position
If I get stoned and sing all night long
Its a family tradition