04/30/2026
DAVID ALLAN COE, SINGER OF “THE RIDE” AND WRITER OF “TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT,” DIES AT 86
David Allan Coe (September 6, 1939 – April 29, 2026) was an American singer, songwriter, and defining figure of the outlaw country movement whose uncompromising style and turbulent personal history made him one of the genre’s most polarizing and enduring voices. Known for songs such as “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” “The Ride,” and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile,” Coe also wrote major hits for other artists, including “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” and “Take This Job and Shove It.”
He died on April 29, 2026, at the age of 86, in an intensive care unit following a period of declining health. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Coe spent much of his youth in reform schools and prisons, experiences that would later inform both his songwriting and public persona. After his release in 1967, he moved to Nashville, famously living in a hearse parked outside the Ryman Auditorium, where he performed on the street while trying to break into the music business.
Coe’s early recordings, including Penitentiary Blues (1970) and Requiem for a Harlequin (1973), drew heavily from blues traditions before he transitioned fully into country music. His breakthrough came as a songwriter, with Tanya Tucker’s 1973 No. 1 hit “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” establishing him as a major Nashville talent.
As a recording artist, Coe became closely associated with the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, alongside figures such as Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. His 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme featured “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” widely regarded as a defining country song. Subsequent releases, including Longhaired Redneck (1976) and Rides Again (1977), cemented his reputation as an artist who embraced—and often exaggerated—the outlaw image.
Though he achieved only intermittent mainstream chart success, Coe’s influence remained significant. His songwriting reached a broad audience through other performers, most notably Johnny Paycheck’s 1977 No. 1 recording of “Take This Job and Shove It,” which became a working-class anthem and later inspired a feature film.
In the 1980s, Coe experienced a commercial resurgence with “The Ride” (1983), a narrative ballad about an encounter with the ghost of Hank Williams, and “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile” (1984), his highest-charting single. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, he released more than 40 studio albums.
Coe’s life and career were frequently marked by controversy. His rebellious persona—long hair, rhinestone suits, biker affiliations, and confrontational lyrics—both attracted a devoted following and limited his acceptance within the country music establishment. His independently released “underground” recordings drew criticism for explicit and offensive content, which he defended as satire, further complicating his legacy.
Outside music, Coe survived a serious car accident in 2013 and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2021. He also faced legal and financial challenges, including disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.
