Billy Joe Shaver Old Chunk Of Coal

Shaver was born in corsicana texas and raised by his mother victory watson shaver his father virgil having left the family before billy joe was born until he was 12 he spent a great deal of time with his grandmother in corsicana so that his mother could work in waco he sometimes accompanied his mother to her job at a local nightclub where he began to be exposed to country music.

Billy joe shaver old chunk of coal. His writing credits include i m just an old chunk of coal honky tonk heroes by craig shelburne 6m ago billy joe shaver one of the most colorful country songwriters of the 1970s and. Hey i m just an old chunk of coal but i m gonna be a diamond some day i m gonna grow and glow til i m so blue pure perfect i m gonna put a smile on ev rybody s. Billy joe shaver in the uk im just an old chunk of coal. Billy joe shaver born august 16 1939 is a texas country music singer and songwriter.

In this song the texas singer songwriter billy joe shaver tells a story of transformation using the coal to diamond metaphor to represent his faith in jesus and the change he anticipates when he makes his transition. I m just an old chunk of coal was originally released in 1981 on columbia undoubtedly at the urging of johnny cash who s publishing house published over half of the songs on the lp. Old chunk of coal lyrics. The song in question was i m just an old chunk of coal a moving meditation of mid life self improvement that became a hit in 1981 for the country singer john anderson.

Shaver s 1973 album old five and dimers like me is a classic in the outlaw country genre. Billy joe shaver performing i m just an old chunk of coal at music city roots live from the factory on 4 15 2015. In our 2010 interview with billy joe shaver he explained. Old chunk of coal d d7 i m just an old chunk of coal f bm but i m gonna be a diamond someday g d b7 i m gonna grow and glow til i m so blue pure perfect e a7 i m gonna put a smile on everybody s face d d7 i m gonna kneel and pray every day f f 7 bm lest i should become vain along the way g d b7 i m just and old chunk of coal now lord e a7 d.