Family Tradition

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 it's because

I kind of 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, I'm just carrying on

An old family tradition



I am very proud

Of my daddy's name

All though his kind of music

And mine ain't 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



Don't ask me,

Hank why do you drink?

Hank, why do you roll smoke?

Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?

If I'm down in a honky-tonk

And some ole slick's trying to give me friction

I'll say leave me alone

I'm singing all night long

It's a family tradition



Lord 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,

I'm just carrying on an ole family tradition



So don't 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 and put yourself in my unique position

If I get stoned and sing all night long, its a family tradition!