Mistreating Daddy
by 
Porter Grainger 
/ B. Ricketts 
recording of December 4 1923 
from 
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 (Columbia/Legacy C2K-47091) 
Daddy, mama's got the blues 
The kind of blues that's hard to lose 
'Cause you mistreated me 
And drove me from your door 
Daddy, you ain't heard the news 
There's another papa in your shoes 
You ain't even got a chance with me no more 
So be on your p's and q's 
Mistreating daddy, mistreating mama all the time 
Just because she wouldn't let you 
Mistreating daddy, mama's drawed the danger line 
Yes, you'll cross it, I'll get you 
If you see me setting on another daddy's knee 
Don't bother me, I'm as mean as can be 
I'm like the butcher right down the street 
I can cut you all apieces like I would a piece of meat 
Mistreating daddy, you used to knock your mama down 
When you knew I fell for you 
Had me so nervous, I would start dogging 'round 
Yes, every time I saw you 
But now I've got you off of my mind 
And found another daddy who's just my kind 
Mistreating daddy, I've got another papa now 
I've got a tip for people talking about 
I will grab my daddy and turn him wrong side out 
Mistreating daddy, I've got a good papa now 
__________ 
Note 1: p's and q's, something (as one's manners) that one should be mindful of or being on one's best behavior. From the phrase "mind one's p's and q's", alluding to the difficulty a child learning to write has in distinguishing between p and q.