John Prine - You Never Even Call Me By My Name

spoken] This is a song I wrote with John Prine 4 years ago (1972) and we tried to put into one song, everything that had ever been in any of the country and western songs we had ever heard. Tried to put it all into one song. Serves us right. This is what came out:

Well it was all I could do to keep from cryinSome times it seems so useless to remain
You're the one who always tried to change me
And that is why I will always stay the same

Chorus:

But I'll hang around as long as you will let me
I never minded standing in the rain
You don't have to call me darlin', darlinBut you never even call me by my name
No, you don't have to call me Freddy Fender
You don't have to call me Charlie Pride
You don't have to call me Merle Haggard anymore
Even though you know you're on my fighting side

Chorus- this verse only:
And I'm gonna hang around as long as you will let me
I never minded standing in the rain (when nights are cold and lonely)
You don't have to call me darlin', darlinBut you never even call me by name.

[musical by mouth improv done in a Merle Haggard-like tone -no words]