Country music singers
Have always been a real close family
But lately some of my kinfolk
Have disowned a few others and me

I guess it's because
I kinda changed my direction
And Lord, I guess I went
And broke their family tradition
They get on me 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 met my prediction
So if I get stoned I'm just carryin'
On an old family tradition

I am very proud
Of my daddy's name
Although 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
It's a family tradition

So 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
Some old slicks trying to give my friction
I say leave me alone I'm singin' all night long
It's 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 my doctor asked me
"Son, how'd you get in this condition?"
I said "Hey sawbones, I'm just carryin' on
An old family tradition"

So 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?

Stop and think it over
Try to put yourself in my unique position
If I get stoned and sing all night long
It's a family tradition