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

I guess it's because
I kinda changed my direction
Lord, I guess I went and broke their 
Family tradition

They get on me, wanna 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 carrying on an old 
Family tradition

I am very proud
Of my daddy's name
Although his kinda 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

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 ol' slicks tryin' to give me friction
I'll say leave me alone
I'm singing all night long
It's a family tradition

Lordie, I have loved some ladies
And I have loved Jim Bean
And they both tried to kill me
In 1973

When that doctor asks me
Son, how'd ya get in this condition?
I said, 'Hey saw bones
I'm just carrying 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