Turtle Blues
by 
Janis Joplin 
recording of 1968 
from 
Cheap Thrills (Columbia 09700, Sony 65784) 
Ah, I'm a mean, mean woman, I don't mean no one man, no good, no 
I'm a mean, mean woman, I don't mean no one man, no good 
I just treats 'em like I wants to, I never treats 'em, honey like I should 
Oh, Lord, I once had a daddy, he said he'd give me everything in sight 
Once had a daddy, said he'd give me everything in sight, yes, he did 
So I said, "Honey, I want the sunshine, you take the stars out of the night, 
come on and give 'em to me, babe, 'cause I want 'em right now" 
I ain't the kind of woman, who'd make your life a bed of ease, ha ha ha ha! 
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no 
I'm not the kind of woman, no, to make your life a bed of ease 
Yeah, but if you, if you just wanna go out drinkin', honey, won't you invite me along, please 
Oh, I'll be so good to ya babe, yeah! 
Whoa, go on! 
I guess I'm just like a turtle, that's hidin' underneath its horny shell 
Whoa, whoa, oh yeah, like a turtle, hidin' underneath its hard-ass shell 
But you know I'm very well protected, I know this goddamn life too well 
Oh! Now call me mean, you can call me evil, yeah, yeah, I've been called much worse things around, honey, don't ya know I have! 
Whoa, call me mean or call me evil, I've been called much worse things, all things around, 
yeah, but I'm gonna take good care of Janis, yeah, 
Honey, ain't no one gonna dog me down 
Alright, yeah