Daddy's Little Pumpkin
John Prine · Live On Tour [1997]
You must be daddy's little pumpkin
I can tell by the way you roll
You must be daddy's little pumpkin
I can tell by the way you roll
It's quarter past eleven
You're sleeping on the bedroom floor
I can see the fire burning
Burning right behind your eyes
I can see the fire burning, baby
Burning right behind your eyes
You must've swallowed a candle
Or some other kind of surprise
I'm going down to Memphis
Got three hundred dollars in cash
Yeah, I'm going down to Memphis
Got three hundred dollars in cash
All the women in Memphis
Want to see how long my money will last
I'm going downtown
Gonna to rattle somebody's cage
Yeah, I'm going downtown
I'm gonna rattle somebody's cage
I'm gonna beat on my guitar
Strut all around the stage
Yeah, if you see my baby coming
Don't you tell her that her daddy's in jail
If you see my baby coming
Don't you tell her that her daddy's in jail
She'd sell her little pumpkin just to raise
Her sweet daddy's bail
You must be daddy's little pumpkin
I can tell by the way you roll
You must be daddy's little pumpkin
I can tell by the way you roll
Well, you never do nothing
To save your doggone soul, that's right
Daddy's Little Pumpkin
John Prine's "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" stands as a quintessential example of his folksy storytelling, delivered here with the raw energy of his 1997 live performance. The song captures the bittersweet dynamic between a child and a father, blending humor with poignant observation in a style that defined the acoustic folk tradition. Recorded for "Live On Tour," the track showcases Prine's signature ability to weave everyday life into universal themes of love, loss, and family bonds. Its inclusion on this album highlights his commitment to capturing the immediacy of performance while maintaining the lyrical depth that made him a beloved figure in American music. The recording serves as a testament to his enduring influence on singer-songwriters who prioritize narrative clarity and emotional resonance.