Ethel Waters
You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did (1923 Version)
[Verse 1]
Listen, daddy mine, what do you want of me?
I've been just as good as can be
Now the love I had for you has turned to hate
You don't appreciate, so daddy, there's the gate
You can't do what my last man did
Dog me 'round and treat me like he did

[Verse 2]
I'm wise to what you'd like to do
So from now on, let me miss you
I weep and pine all the time
While you show off with friends of mine
My last man tried to drag me down
But he was one good man to have around
But when the clock on the wall strikes half past three
I want all the things you took from me
'Cause you can't do what my last man did

[Verse 3]
Early this morning you wanted to fight
'Cause you heard I cabaret'd last night
Tried to take my money and pawn my flat
Now you've worn the welcome clean off my mat
'Cause you can't do what my last man did
Hold me tight, treat me right every night
I'd love you if you only did
Every night, treat me right, hold me tight
[Verse 4]
You're mighty old to be so bold
And I can't stand a man that's cold
Why, you can't love me sufficiently
To make me forget my used-to-be
He could love like a lover should
Always could, when he would, he was good
You've lost your nest, go east or west
But go, just go
Now that last cruel papa, he blacked my eye
Then left me alone to sigh and cry
But you can't do what that last man did