Only Son of the Ladiesman
Father John Misty Lyrics

When I heard the ladiesman was dead
Upon discovering the death of this unknown ladiesman, I felt as if time had stood still momentarily

I saw the rolling stone stopped moving
The news of his demise had shaken me to my core, as if the whole world had come to a stop

Saw my ancient hero on the Sunset Strip
I saw a glimpse of my childhood hero in my mind's eye while strolling down the Sunset Strip

He left behind a legacy of ruin
His legacy wasn't a positive one - it was filled with despair and tragedy

Now painted ladies want to hold my gun
These ladies are now trying to take advantage of me and my connections, seeking my protection

Wonder if the whole time if I'd been acting
I started to question my own true motives and wondered if my past actions were just to put on a show

When I sang 'Moon River' in that silent film
During one of my past performances in a silent movie, I had sung the song 'Moon River'

Had I really made a sound when they called action
I wasn't even sure if I made a sound when I was supposed to on set with everyone watching me

I swear that man was womankind's first husband
That ladiesman was undoubtedly the first ever woman's man, and he was almost sanctified in the eyes of all women

They all died in a line to save him
These women had sacrificed themselves to keep him alive, to keep his legacy going

I'm a steady hand, I'm a Dodger's fan
I'm reliable, unwavering in times of crisis, and I always support the Dodgers team

I'm a leaning brand of a one night stand
I'm just an ephemeral, fleeting experience - like a brief one-night fling

I'm a ladiesman
I, too, seemingly possess the effortless charm and suave demeanor of the legendary ladiesman

Oh, some ladiesman
What a figure the ladiesman was - he couldn't be duplicated, but his influence would live on

Couldn't see his used up body at the funeral
At his funeral, his body was so ravaged - the result of all his exploits - it was hard to look at him

By virtue of the flailing of his conquests
Due to the chaotic nature of his relationships, the funeral became a dramatic affair

They tied down his casket with the garter belt
His casket was lowered to the ground, held down by a garter belt

Each troubled heart was beating in a sequin dress
His many acquaintances and lovers were all present, the women's hearts still full of pain and longing, dressed in sequins

Someone must console these lonesome daughters
Someone, anyone, had to be there for these women - they were dealing with such heartbreak on their own

No written word or ballad will appease them
No words or music could console them, the pain of their loss was too great

Cowboy and the cop shot down the ladiesman
It was revealed that the ladiesman met his demise at the hands of the cowboy and the cop

The humid nights in L.A. are now silence
In the wake of the ladiesman's tragic end, Los Angeles was left without its usual buzz

I swear that man was womankind's first husband
Once again, I lamented that the legendary ladiesman was gone - he had been more than just a man, but a husband of sorts to so many women

Only son of the ladiesman
The son or heir to the ladiesman - whoever that might be - was left to carry on the legacy

Only son of the ladiesman
Once again, I repeated this line - the only surviving son of the legendary ladiesman was burdened with a great responsibility

Only son of the ladiesman, oh
And with that final line, I acknowledged the weight that had been placed upon the new ladiesman's shoulders, an unknown person who would now have to navigate through the rest of their life in the shadow of their father's legacy