E
country music singers ,
A
have always been a real close family ,
B7
but lately some of my kinfolk ,
E
have disowned a few others and me ,
A
i guess it’s because , i kinda’ changed my direction ,
B7 E
lord i guess i went and broke their family tradition ,
they get on me and wanna’ know hank ,

chorus
E
why do ya drink? ,
A
hank why do you roll smoke? ,
B7 E
and why must you live out the songs that you wrote? ,
A
over and over every body met my prediction ,
B7 E
if i get stoned i’m just carrying 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 ya drink? , hank why do you roll smoke? ,
and why must you live out the songs that you wrote? ,
if i’m down in a honky tonk and some ol’ slick tries to give me friction ,
i’ll say leave me alone i’m singin’ all night long ’cause 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 that doctor asked me , son how’d ya get in this position? ,
i said a hey sawbones i’m just a carrying on and ol’ family tradition ,
so don’t ask me hank ,

why do ya drink? , hank why do you roll smoke? ,
and 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 .