I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
Fats Domino Lyrics


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I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
When you dead in your grave,
No more women will you crave.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
I trust you in my home,
You wouldn't leave my wife alone.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall, you rascal, you.
I fed you since last fall,
Then you got your ashes hauled.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes, you rascal, you.
You asked my wife to wash your clothes
And something else I suppose.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you.
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you.
You know you done me wrong,
You done stole my wife and gone.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal, you rascal, you!
You asked my wife for a meal,
And something else you tried to steal.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

Please don't let me find you, rascal, you.
Please don't let me find you, rascal, you!
Please don't let me find you
Cause you'll leave this world behind you.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you.
Ain't no use to run, you rascal, you.
Ain't no use to run,
I done bought a Gatling gun,
And you still having your fun, you rascal, you!

I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you!
I'm gonna kill you just for fun;
The buzzards gonna have you when I'm done.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you!
You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you!
You done messed with my wife,




And I'm gonna take your life.
I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!

Overall Meaning

"I'll Be Glad When You're Dead" by Fats Domino features lyrics that express the singer's anger and hatred towards someone who has wronged him by stealing his wife. The repetitive phrase "I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!" highlights the singer's desire for revenge and his pleasure at the thought of the wrongdoer's demise. He believes that once the person is dead, he will no longer crave women and will no longer be a nuisance to him. The singer also expresses his trust in the person but claims that he wouldn't leave his wife alone, hence his trust was misplaced.


The lyrics continue on to reveal how the singer had fed and housed the person, but he went on to steal his wife and even asked her to wash his clothes. The singer feels that the person has done him wrong and that he deserves to die. The lyrics go on to warn the person not to run because the singer has bought a Gatling gun and is going to kill him just for fun. The song ends with the singer stating that he will be glad when the person is dead because he has messed with his wife.


The song is an expression of Fats Domino's feelings towards his drummer and had written the song just after the drummer had stolen his wife. The song was released in 1942 and became popular among African Americans who could relate to the theme of revenge and betrayal. It was later covered by several artists, including Louis Armstrong and Dr. John.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll be glad when you dead, you rascal, you!
The singer will be relieved and happy when the person being referred to is dead.


When you dead in your grave, No more women will you crave.
After death, the person referred to will no longer be tempted to pursue women.


I trust you in my home, you rascal, you.
The singer had allowed the person being referred to into their home, despite their questionable behavior.


You wouldn't leave my wife alone.
The person being referred to had made advances towards the artist's wife.


Then you got your ashes hauled.
The person being referred to had sex with someone, likely causing them to contract a sexually transmitted infection.


You asked my wife to wash your clothes And something else I suppose.
The person being referred to had made inappropriate requests of the singer's wife, likely of a sexual nature.


You know you done me wrong, You done stole my wife and gone.
The person being referred to had committed adultery with the singer's wife and left her.


And something else you tried to steal.
The person being referred to had attempted to steal something from the artist's wife, likely something of value.


Please don't let me find you Cause you'll leave this world behind you.
If the person being referred to is found, they will be killed and their death will be in vain, causing them to leave the world with nothing.


I done bought a Gatling gun, And you still having your fun, you rascal, you!
The artist has acquired a weapon and will not hesitate to use it to kill the person being referred to, even if they are still enjoying themselves.


I'm gonna kill you just for fun; The buzzards gonna have you when I'm done.
The singer plans to kill the person being referred to for their own enjoyment, and their body will be left for scavengers after.


You done messed with my wife, And I'm gonna take your life.
The person being referred to had committed adultery with the artist's wife, which has led to the artist wanting to kill them.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sam Theard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Thomas Tarwater

I first heard this song while stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base way back in 1979, by way of a record album played on a high-fidelity stereo by yours truly at the recreation center. Thank you Fats Domino for this fine rendition.

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