This is a remarkable song. To me it sounds like a coded protest against sexual harassment.


DADDY, DON'T PUT THAT THING ON ME BLUES
As recorded by Clara Smith, 1929.

I'm goin' down to the circus to see that snake-charmin' man,
The man that's got that big black snake wrapped around his han'.
Right then and there I'll deliver this plea:
Mister snake charmin' papa, have mercy on me.
Here's what I'll say before the undertakers haul me away:

Oh, daddy, don't you put that thing on me.
I don't like it very much.
Daddy, don't you put that thing on me.
I simply can't stand the touch.
Don't like the way it looks, especially its head.
If you put it on me, papa, you will kill me dead.
You hear me screamin'.
You know what I'm meanin':
Don't you put that thing on me.

I know a big handsome papa called that snake-charmin' king,
A man that loves to show folks that big black thing.
He's just as nice as any man can be,
But he loves to put that thing on children like me.
Here's what I'll say if I should see him start comin' my way:

Oh, don't you dare to put that thing on me.
Go ahead and let me be.*
Now you know very well I can't stand that thing,
'Cause it always gives me such a chill.*
I don't like the way it looks, especially it twists.
If you put it on my hand, put it around my wrist.
You hear me screamin'.
You know what I'm meanin'.
Don't you dare to put that thing on me.


[* These lines ought to rhyme. They correspond to "much" and "touch" in the previous chorus. The lack of rhyme makes me think something has been changed or forgotten, but I don't know what.]