“You Never Even Called Me by My Name” is a song written by Steve Goodman and John Prine. Prine requested to be uncredited on the song, as he thought it was a “goofy, novelty song” and didn’t want to “offend the country music community”. Goodman released the song on his eponymous 1971 debut album Steve Goodman to little acclaim. It was more famously recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe on his 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme. It was the third single release of Coe’s career and his 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.”

You Never Even Called Me by My Name
Single by David Allan Coe
Album “Once Upon a Rhyme”
B-side “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field Of Stone?)”
Released June 1975
Genre Outlaw Country, Country & Western
Length 5:16
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Steve Goodman John Prine (uncredited)
Producer(s) Ron Bledsoe
COUNTRYPEDIA