Country music singers have always been a real close family But lately some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others than me I guess it's because I kinda changed my direction Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition Now get on me and wanna know, Hank, why do you drink? Hank, why do you roll smoke? Why must you live by the songs that you wrote? Over and over, everybody made 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 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 by the songs that you wrote? If I'm down in a honky-tonk, some old slick's tryin' to give me friction I say, leave me alone, I'm singing all night long, it's a family tradition Whoo! Lordy, I have loved some ladies, and I have loved Jim Beam And they both tried to kill me in 1973 And when that doctor asked me, son, how'd you get in this condition? I said, it aches all 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 by 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 Thank you for watching!