I Still Sing The Old Songs
David Allan Coe · Ultimate Collection [2005]
GRANDPA, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU LATELY
WONDERING IF YOU'D FOUND PEACE OF MIND
I GUESS YOU'D BE PROUD TO KNOW YOUR GRANDSONS
NEVER CROSSED THAT MASON-DIXON LINE
AND I STILL SING THE OLD SONGS THAT YOU TAUGHT ME
AND I STILL PRAY TO JESUS NOW AND THEN
AND JUST LIKE YOU I WISH THAT HE WOULD SAVE ME
TO SEE THE DAY THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN
DADDY WORE HIS PURPLE HEART SO PROUDLY
LONG BEFORE I TURNED INTO A MAN
BURIED WITH OUR FLAG ACROSS HIS CASKET
I WAS STILL TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND
MAMA SPENT HER LAST YEARS IN THE GARDEN
WHILE I TOOK MY TURN BEHIND THE GUN
LORD, I'D GIVE MY LIFE TO FIND THE FREEDOM
LOST WITHIN THE OLD SONGS THAT YOU SUNG
AND I STILL SING THE OLD SONGS THAT YOU TAUGHT ME
AND I STILL PRAY TO JESUS NOW AND THEN
AND JUST LIKE YOU I WISH THAT HE WOULD SAVE ME
TO SEE THE DAY THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN
I Still Sing The Old Songs
David Allan Coe's 'I Still Sing The Old Songs' appears on his 2005 compilation, Ultimate Collection. The track exemplifies Coe's signature blend of country, honky-tonk, and outlaw rock, characterized by his distinctive gravelly vocals and storytelling prowess. As a staple of his discography, the song reflects his lifelong dedication to preserving traditional American musical themes while injecting them with his unique, often irreverent, perspective. Released during a period where Coe continued to tour and record with renewed energy, the recording captures the raw, unpolished sound that defined his career. It stands as a testament to his ability to reinterpret classic country tropes through a modern lens, maintaining the authenticity that made him a central figure in the genre's history.