You Can't Do What My Last Man Did (08-25-25) - Ethel Waters

Waters Ethel

Miscellaneous

You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did

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

Boss me 'round, and treat me like he did

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

Early this morning, you wanted to fight

'Cause you heard I cabareted 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

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