(E)Country music singers have always been a (A)real close family   
But(B7) lately some of my kinfolk have disowned a few others and(E) me  
I guess it's because I kinda(A) changed my direction 
Lord,(B7)I guess I went and broke their family (E)tradition 
 
C H O R U S 
 
They get on me, wanna know: "Hank.." 
(E)Why do you drink? Hank(A)Why do you roll smoke? 
(B7)Why must you live out the songs that you(E) wrote? 
Over and over - everybody(A)made my prediction 
(B7)so if I get stoned, I'm just carryin' on and old family (E)tradition. 
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(E)I am very proud of my daddy's(A) name 
(B7)Although his kind of music and mine ain't exactly the(E) same 
Stop and think it over - (A) put yourself in my position 
(B7)If I get stoned and sing all night long it's a family (E)tradition 
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CHORUS 2 
Don't ask me: "Hank..." 
(E)Why do you drink? Hank(A)Why do you roll smoke? 
(B7)Why must you live out the songs that you(E) wrote? 
If I'm down in a honky tonk, some ol(A) slick's tryin' to gimme friction 
I says(B7) "Leave me alone, I'm singin' all night long  it's a family (E)tradition" 
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Lead SOLO 
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(E)Lordy, I have loved some ladies, and I have loved(A) Jim Bean 
(B7)They both tried to kill me in nineteen seventy-(E)three 
When that doctor asked me "Son, how'dja get in this(A) condition?" 
I says(B7) "Hey Sawbones, I'm just a-carryin' on the old family (E)tradition." 
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CHORUS 3 
So don't ask me: "Hank..." 
(E)Why do you drink? Hank(A)Why do you roll smoke? 
(B7)Why must you live out the songs that you(E) wrote? 
Stop and think it over - try to put yourself in my unique(A)position 
(B7)If I get stoned and sing all night long, it's a family (E)tradition.