Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean

Subject: Seeking lyrics to Ruth Brown song from '5os
From: Breaser
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 11:37 AM

Thanks for the one response on earlier request! Surely, somebody out there recalls or can direct me to the words to these songs--Mama...and Daughter, That's Your Red Wagon Now (answer song). My mom worked in the record department of a local dime store. She played these records. I just can't find anyone who knows the songs now. Some lyrics are Mama, he takes my money, makes me call him honey Mama, he says I'm lazy, almost drives me crazy

Mama, he treats your daughter mean He's the meanest man I've ever seen..

These are from my long ago memory...

If someone recalls more, please help.

Thanks, Breaser

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 11:52 AM

Can't find this in Harry's Blues Lyrics. Was it Ruth Brown? Not Victoria Spivey or Ma Rainey? I suspect I've got this on vinyl somewhere, probably in a compilation set of Paul Oliver or Alan Lomax selectons. It may be the weekend before I can do any rummaging, part of which will be taken up by openair jazz and fireworks with the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings and Pete Allen jazz band at Basildon Park so I hope the British monsoon abates for a day.
When I retire (or get sacked for running the Mudcat jello tanker in work time) I must index the tracks on compilation albums!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 11:57 AM

Mudcatters,

I checked earlier for the lyrics. They are not available through the DT, OLGA, Lyrics World, Hits 1940 - Present, Harry's Blues Lyrics, or the Blues Lyrics link here at Mudcat.

I've been away a few days and I haven't been able to do a more intensive search. I'm at work right now so it won't happen anytime soon, either. This song was done by Ruth Brown, Koko Taylor, and some other artists.

I believe the song comes from the 1930's or 40's.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Allan C.
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 01:29 PM

Here are a couple of notes I found on the net about Ruth Brown. I don't remember ever hearing of her before now, so this was enlightening for me.

American R&B singer who was one of the biggest stars on the 50's era Atlantic label. Sang songs that had a stonger female point of view than many of her contemporaries. One good example being her classic, "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean," and before Cyndi Lauper, there was "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'."

*****

Before Aretha was crowned "Queen Of Soul," Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Ruth Brown was named "The Queen Of Rhythm." Throughout the '50s, she stood alone as Atlantic Records' best-selling artist by belting out slab after slab of gut-bucket rhythm & blues and heart-wrenching ballads, putting more than 20 of them in the R&B Top 10. Even her monogram says R&B.

If no lyrics show up here, you can purchase a recording of Ruth Brown's greatest hits at:

Blue Clicky Thing

I might just do it myself, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 01:35 PM

I did a Yahoo! search to no avail.

Ruth Brown recorded the single in 1953. Dave Marsh places it at number 595 of his "Top 1001 Singles." Of course, my hero, Loudon Wainwright III's hit, "Dead Skunk", came in at 932.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 04:00 PM

I've found a number of good ol' blues songs at the House of Blues -- www.hob.com -- including Ruth Brown singing "If I Can't Sell it, Gonna Keep Sittin' On It", and they have a number of compilations of the older singers, however when I looked there I couldn't find an index of performers.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 03:41 AM

Yes, I came up blank too, looked in my compilation albums and in my blues lyric books last night without success.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 05:41 PM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA, HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 05 May 04 - 11:10 AM

If someone is still looking fo this, I found the lyrics on All the Lyrics.com

I said mama he treats your daughter mean
Oh I said mama he treats your daughter mean
Well he's the meanest man I've ever seen

I said mama this man is lazy
Almost drive me crazy
Mama he takes all my money
Makes me call him honey

I've stood all that I can stand
Said what's the matter with this man

I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Oh I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Well he's the meanest man I've ever seen
Help me now!

I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Oh I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Well he's the meanest man I've ever seen

Oh I said mama I'm so disgusted
He just can't be trusted
Mama he makes me squeeze him
Oh tell mama my squeezes just don't please him

I've stood all I can stand
Gonna pack my bags and leave this man

I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Oh I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
He's the meanest man I've ever seen
"ord' No' Now!

Got to find a good man
Oh I said mama I'm tired of this man of mine
I got to find me a good man baby
Find me a good man now
Find me a good man baby
I got to find me a good man'Oh Yes!
I got to find me a good man now
I need a good man
One that's gonna treat me right
And oh one that's gonna come home at night
I don't want a man that fuss and fights
Oh I said mama... mama... he treats... your daughter... mean...

Oh I said mama he treats your daughter so mean
Well he's the meanest man I've ever seen
Oh' No' So Mean!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Path: All The Lyrics: Susan Tedeschi: Susan Tedeschi lyrics: Just Won't Burn lyrics: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean lyric

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA, HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 May 04 - 09:27 PM

I found several web sites that say MAMA, HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN was written by Johnny Wallace, Herbert J. Lance, & Charles Singleton—but some sources omit Singleton.

Most copies of the lyrics on the Internet come from Susan Tedeschi's singing. The lyrics below, from the Black Cat Rockabilly site, are reportedly the ones Ruth Brown sang. Note that this version says nothing about leaving and finding another man.

MAMA, HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN
(Johnny Wallace - Herbert J. Lance)
RUTH BROWN (ATLANTIC 986, 1953)

Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
He's the meanest man I've ever seen.

Mama, he treats me badly; makes me love him madly.
Mama, he takes my money; makes me call him honey.
Mama, he can't be trusted; makes me so disgusted.
All of my friends say they don't understand.
What's the matter with this man?
I'll tell you, Mama, he treats your daughter mean.

Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
He's the mean-meanest man I've ever seen.

Mama, this man is lazy; almost drives me crazy.
Mama, he makes me squeeze him; still my squeeze don't please him.
Mama, my heart is aching; I believe it's breaking.
Mama, I stood all that I can stand.
What's the matter with this man?
I'll tell you, mama, he treats your daughter mean.

Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
Mama, he treats your daughter mean.
He's the mean-meanest man I've ever seen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 May 04 - 03:57 AM

Strange to see my previous incarnation after all this time!
I knew I had this somewhere, of course I had the Susan Tedeschi version on "Just won't burn". Ruth Brown fans might like to note the recent reissue CD with this as the title track. Another track from it was played, coincidentally, on Paul Jones BBC2 blues programme last night. See the PJ prog section of BBC Music website for full details.

RtS
(getting nearer to needing a zimmer frame in real life than I was then!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 May 04 - 06:35 PM

I'm afraid most Americans won't understand "zimmer frame." Over here it's called a "walker."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: MarkS
Date: 07 May 04 - 10:22 PM

And Ruth Brown, God bless her, is still around. I met her last year; she was playing in a New Jersey casino where I was working at the time! Paid her a slot jackpot and saw the name on her player card, which caused me to take a long second look.
That was a treat in an otherwise boring day.
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 08 May 04 - 07:48 AM

That's why I changed my Mudcat name, Jim!

RtS