Learn the words to this song

I had an old friend at work who never truly overcame the death of Steve Goodman. She would bring up his name almost weekly in conversations. Even so many years after someone's passing, that's easy to do when you are co-members of a mutual appreciation society.

I mention Goodman this morning because I heard a song of his last night that brought back some memories. How it ever got in David Allan Coe's hands I'll probably never know. They were supposed to have been friends. Mutt and Jeff, I guess. Or Water and Oil. I will give Coe his due: He made it one of the greatest beer-swilling songs of all-time:

It was all that I could do to keep from cryin'
Sometimes it seems so useless to remain
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'
You never even call me by my name

This is how much I like the song: Even though I disdain karaoke, I would stand up in a bar and sing that one (and I do wish you could be there beside me, and we would have to prime the pump, so to speak).

You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings
And you don't have to call me Charlie Pride
You don't have to call me Merle Haggard, anymore
Even though your on my fightin' side

Goodman was truly a gifted and beloved songwriter, though perhaps underappreciated in his short time here because others, like Coe and Arlo Guthrie with "City of New Orleans'' elevated his songs to such grand heights. And he shared some songwriting credits with John Prine, even this one.

And I'll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standin' in the rain
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'
You never even call me by my name

Remember those lines. I might ask you to get up and sing with me one of these nights...