Country music singers have been a real close family
But lately, some of my kinfolks have disowned a few others and me
I guess it's because I kind of changed my direction
Lord, I guess I went and broke their family tradition

They get on me and want to know
Hank, why do you drink? Why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Over and over, everybody makes my predictions
So if I get stoned, I'm just carrying on an old family tradition

I am very proud of my daddy's name
All though 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 out the songs that you wrote?
If I'm down in a honky-tonk, some ol' slick's trying to give me friction
I said, "Leave me alone, I'm singing all night long, it's a family tradition"

Lord, 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 did you get in this condition?"
I said, "Hey sawbones, I'm just carrying on an ol' family tradition"

So don't ask me, Hank, why do you drink? Hank, why do you roll smoke?
Why must you live out the songs that you wrote?
Stop and think it over, try and put yourself in my unique position
If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family tradition