To Daddy

Emmylou Harris · Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town [Rhino Records] [2004]

(Dolly Parton)



Mama never seemed to miss the finer things of life

If she did she never did say so to daddy

She never wanted to be more than mother and a wife

If she did she never did say so to daddy.



The only thing that seemed to be important in her life

Was to make our house a home and make us happy

Mama never wanted any more than what she had

If she did she never did say so to daddy.



He often left her all alone but she didn't mind the staying home

If she did she never did say so to daddy

And she never missed the flowers and the cards he never sent her

If she did she never did say so to daddy.



Being took for granted was a thing that she accepted

And she don't need those things to make her happy

And she didn't seem to notice that he didn't kiss and hold her

If she did she never did say so to daddy.



One morning we awoke just to find a note

That mama carefully wrote and left to daddy

And as we began to read it our ears could not believe it

The words she had written there to daddy.



She said the kids are older now they don't need me very much

And I've gone in search of love I need so badly

I have needed you so long without you things can't keep holdin' on

She never meant to come back home.



But she did, she never did say so to daddy

Goodbye daddy...