I'm Her Daddy
B.Withers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do you do, Lucy?
You sure been hard to find
I heard you had a daughter six years old
And I just can keep from crying

Six years and Lucy
Lord, have mercy
That's a long time

That's a long time

Is she pretty? Has she grown?
Does she sleep well in a room of her own?
Can I see her? Does she know
That I'm her daddy? I'm her daddy

Did you give her love, love, one of my pictures?
Does she carry, yeah, yeah, picture with her?
Does she show it to the baby sitter
And say, see that man, that's my daddy
That's my daddy, yeah

You should have told me, Lucy
You should have told me, Lucy
You should have told me, Lucy
Poor Lucy, poor Lucy, poor Lucy, oh Lucy

You should have told me, Lucy
You should have told me, Lucy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bill Withers' song "I'm Her Daddy" tell a story of a man, addressing a woman named Lucy, who discovers that he is the father of a six-year-old girl. The man expresses his sadness and regret for not knowing about his daughter sooner, and he longs to see her and be a part of her life.

The song begins with the man acknowledging that Lucy has been difficult to find, indicating that there may have been some distance or separation between them. He then learns of the existence of their daughter, which overwhelms him with emotion, leading him to uncontrollable tears. The repetition of the line "That's a long time" emphasizes the deep impact and significance of the six years that have passed without his knowledge or involvement in his daughter's life.

The man goes on to ask Lucy about their daughter's appearance and development, expressing his curiosity and desire to know more about her. He wonders if she is pretty and if she has grown. He also asks if she is well taken care of and has her own room to sleep in. The man's longing to see his daughter is evident as he repeatedly declares, "I'm her daddy."

In the latter part of the song, the man questions Lucy if she has shown their daughter a picture of him. He wonders if she carries the picture with her and if she proudly presents it to her babysitter, proudly proclaiming, "That's my daddy." These questions illustrate the man's longing to be acknowledged by his daughter and his hope that she knows he is her father.

Overall, "I'm Her Daddy" portrays a man who discovers the existence of his daughter after years of being unaware. The lyrics express his deep regret for not being involved in her life and his yearning to establish a connection with her.

Line by Line Meaning

How do you do, Lucy?
Greetings, Lucy. How have you been?

You sure been hard to find
You have been difficult to locate.

I heard you had a daughter six years old
I have learned that you have a six-year-old daughter.

And I just can keep from crying
And I cannot help but cry.

Six years and Lucy
It has been six years, Lucy.

Lord, have mercy
May the Lord show mercy.

That's a long time
That is a considerable length of time.

That's a long time
That is a significant duration.

Is she pretty? Has she grown?
Is she beautiful? Has she matured?

Does she sleep well in a room of her own?
Does she have good sleep in her own room?

Can I see her? Does she know
Am I allowed to see her? Does she recognize me?