<Tr> <Td> "Would You Be My Lady" (1975) </Td> <Td> "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" (1975) </Td> <Td> "Longhaired Redneck" (1975) </Td> </Tr> <P> "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is a song written and recorded by Steve Goodman and John Prine; and recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe . It was the third single release of Coe's career, included on his album Once Upon a Rhyme . The song was Coe's first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard country singles charts . The song, over five minutes long, is known for its humorous self - description as "the perfect country and western song ." </P> <P> The song is a satirical response and kiss - off to the country music industry in Nashville . Coe was an ideal choice to convey Steve Goodman's message to the country music industry due to his non-conformist ("outlaw") style; Coe had little love for the Nashville industry . </P> <P> The country music industry of the era blatantly refused to acknowledge the writers' and artist's fringe style; Goodman, despite success penning the folk - pop crossover "City of New Orleans," was still considered an outsider and neophyte . Coe's and Goodman's response to Nashville was not to sell out; the song name - drops Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride and Merle Haggard (as well as his song "The Fightin' Side of Me;" Coe also uses loose impersonations of each artist in doing so) and also makes reference to Faron Young's "Hello Walls" in the background vocals, noting that "you" (industry executives) "don't have to call me" any of those names anymore . In the third verse, Coe notes "the only time I know I'll hear David Allan Coe is when Jesus has his final Judgment Day," noting that he never expected the industry to recognize him by his individual merits . </P>

You never even call me by my name meaning