Family Tradition

[Verse 1]
[A] Country music singers have always been a [D] real close family, but [E7] lately some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and [A] me.
I guess it's because I kind of [D] changed my direction.  [E7] Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tra-[A]-dition.
 
{ CHORUS }
They get on me and want to know Hank [A] why do you drink?  Hank, [D] why do you roll smoke?
[E7] Why must you live out the songs that you [A] wrote?
Over and over every-[D]-body makes my predictions. So if [E7] I get stoned, I'm just carrying on an old family tra-[A]-dition.
 
[Verse 2]
[A] I am very proud [D] of my daddy's name - [E7] Although his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the [A] same.
Stop and think it over. Put your-[D]-self in my position.  If [E7] I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family tra-[A]-dition.
 
{ CHORUS } 
So don't ask me, Hank [A] why do you drink? Hank, [D] why do you roll smoke?  [E7] Why must you live out the songs that you [A] wrote?
If I'm down in a honky-tonk some ole [D] slick's trying to give me friction.  I said [E7] leave me alone, I'm singing all night long, it's a family tra-[A]-dition.
 
[Instrumental]
A D E7   - - - -   A D E7 A
 
[Verse 3]
[A] Lordy, I have loved some ladies and [D] I have loved Jim Beam - And [E7] they both tried to kill me in [A] 1973.
When that doctor asked me, Son [D] how did you get in this condition?  I said, [E7] hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on an ole family tra-[A]-dition.
 
{ CHORUS }
So don't ask me, Hank [A] why do you drink? Hank, [D] why do you roll smoke?  [E7] Why must you live out the songs that you [A] wrote?
Stop and think it over, try and put your-[D]-self in my unique position.
If [E7] I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family tra-[A]-dition.
Yeah, [E7] I'll get stoned and sing all night long, cause it's a family tra-[A]-dition.