E
   Country music singers, 
                      A
   Have always been a real close family,
       B
   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,
   B                                          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?,
       B                                        E
   And why must you live out the songs that you wrote?,
                       A
   Over and over every body met my prediction,
      B                                               E
   If I get stoned I'm just carrying on an old family tradition

[Verse 2]
   E                              A
   I am very proud, of my daddy's name,
   B                                                     E                            
   Although his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the same,
                                              A
   Stop and think it over, put yourself in my position,
            B                                     E
   If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family tradition,

   So don't ask me Hank,

[Chorus]
   E
   Why do ya drink?,
        A
   Hank why do you roll smoke?,
       B                                        E
   And why must you live out the songs that you wrote?,
                       A
   Over and over every body met my prediction,
      B                                               E
   If I get stoned I'm just carrying on an old family tradition

[Verse 3]
                                                    A
   Lordy I have loved some ladies, and I have loved Jim Beam,
   B                                       E
   And they both tried to kill me, in 1973,
                                                       A
   When that doctor asked me, son how'd ya get in this position?,
            B                                           E
   I said a hey sawbones I'm just a carrying on and ol' family tradition,

   So don't ask me Hank,

[Chorus]
   E
   Why do ya drink?,
        A
   Hank why do you roll smoke?,
       B                                        E
   And why must you live out the songs that you wrote?,
                       A
   Over and over every body met my prediction,
      B                                               E
   If I get stoned I'm just carrying on an old family tradition