As if my life weren’t trying enough,

I have to have the last name “Gough”

I can’t see the reason, though;

Why not pronounce it simply “Gough”?

And if slough is slough to rhyme with through,

Why the deuce can’t I say “Gough”?

Or if you’re saying plough and bough,

What’s wrong with just plain “Gough”?

I tell folks until I am about to cough,

My name is pronounced simply “Gough”!!

how do you pronounce 'gough'? 

'gough' ryhmes with 'cough' or 'trough' or 'doff'