Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.
Daddy Could Swear I Declare
Gladys Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, oh my mercy
Ooh, how I remember daddy
He was young and had
A built in tan yeah
And though he only stood
About a five feet seven
Yes he was, y'all
He loved us all and we knew it
Though he showed it in a very funny way
For most of the time
He was a-cussin' and fussin'
When he said what he had to say
Now, now, now
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
But one thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
Have mercy
I still remember seein' him in the backyard
Just a-pickin' and a-paintin' away
Woo, woo, woo, woo
Ooh, my brothers and sisters
Still talk about how
Daddy lost his temper that day
You see, he built a picket fence
From the garage to the house
Well, Sam, tell me what I say
The same day the garbage man
Backed into the fence
And the whole darn thing gave way
You should have been there
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
One thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Tell 'em about
Tell about your daddy
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
Oow
Daddy wasn't no scholar, no
No, he didn't have PHd
But in my eyes and down in my heart.
My daddy means the world to me
He'll probably go out
(Talkin' about daddy)
Cursin', just a-fussin'
And a-bein' mad
But I hope the good lord will understand
That daddy's is just bein' my dad
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
But one thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
The song "Daddy Could Swear I Declare" by Gladys Knight & The Pips is a nostalgic tribute to the singer's father, who had a limited education, but wasn't short of love and care for his family. The opening lines describe him as a man with a built-in tan and not very tall, but nevertheless, a remarkable figure. He may have had a rather unconventional way of showing his love – cussing and fussing most of the time- as the song highlights. The lyrics suggest it was a bit comical, rather than abusive. The chorus mentions that despite not being able to read or write, he had a talent for using foul language, which entertained his family and everyone around him. In the second verse, the singer recalls an anecdote where her dad constructed a picket fence, but then it collapsed when the garbage man backed into it, causing him to lose his temper, and curse in front of everyone, making them laugh.
The song evokes memories of the "good old days" when values were different, and people didn't take things too seriously. It praises simple folks who made the best of what they had and provide for their loved ones regardless of their limitations. It represents a time when swearing was perhaps less taboo, and also more of a social bonding activity than a form of aggression, as it is nowadays. And despite the unconventional way in which he showed it, the father's love for his family is evident, which is why the singer sings his praises with such admiration and appreciation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, yeah
An exclamation showing enthusiasm or excitement
Yeah, oh my mercy
Another exclamation emphasizing the ecstatic mood
Ooh, how I remember daddy
Expressing affectionate nostalgia towards the singer's father
He was young and had
Describing the father as youthful and energetic
A built in tan yeah
Noticing the father's dark skin tone as a natural feature
And though he only stood
Acknowledging the father's short height
About a five feet seven
Specifying the father's exact height
My daddy was a heck of a man
Expressing admiration for the father's qualities
Yes he was, y'all
Emphasizing the artist's affirmation of the father's greatness
He loved us all and we knew it
Acknowledging the father's affection towards his children
Though he showed it in a very funny way
Noting the father's peculiar or unconventional expression of love
For most of the time
Referring to the father's regular behavior
He was a-cussin' and fussin'
Describing the father's tendency to use profanity and make a fuss
When he said what he had to say
Explaining the father's manner of speaking his mind
Now, now, now
A phrase indicating a change of topic or tone
Daddy couldn't read
Revealing the father's illiteracy
Daddy couldn't write
Mentioning the father's inability to write
But one thing daddy sure could do right
Contrasting the father's strengths with his weaknesses
He could swear
Highlighting the father's proficiency in cursing
Oh, lord
An expression of surprise, awe or reverence
I declare
An interjection used to emphasize or illustrate a point
Yes, he could, y'all
Assuming that the listeners agree with the statement
Daddy could swear
Repeating the father's competence in using bad language
I declare
Reemphasizing the preceding statement
Have mercy
An exclamation of relief, amazement or gratitude
I still remember seein' him in the backyard
Recalling a specific memory of the father
Just a-pickin' and a-paintin' away
Describing the father's activity or hobby
Woo, woo, woo, woo
An exclamation expressing delight or excitement
Ooh, my brothers and sisters
Addressing the siblings as fellow witnesses
Still talk about how
Observing that the siblings recall the incident
Daddy lost his temper that day
Relating a specific event where the father got angry
You see, he built a picket fence
Explaining the father's DIY project
From the garage to the house
Identifying the location of the fence
Well, Sam, tell me what I say
A rhetorical question or command directed to someone named Sam
The same day the garbage man
Referring to another event that occurred simultaneously
Backed into the fence
Showing the cause of the fence's damage
And the whole darn thing gave way
Describing the effect of the collision
You should have been there
A regretful or sarcastic remark addressed to the listeners
Tell 'em about
Requesting the siblings to share their memories or opinions
Tell about your daddy
Inviting the siblings to express their views on their father
My daddy was a bad mouth
Acknowledging the father's excessive use of foul language
Watch ya say watch your mouth
Advising or warning someone to be careful with their words
Oow
An exclamation of pain, surprise or enjoyment
Daddy wasn't no scholar, no
Acknowledging the father's lack of formal education
No, he didn't have PHd
Referring to a specific academic degree as a symbol of intelligence
But in my eyes and down in my heart.
Expressing the artist's personal perception and feeling
My daddy means the world to me
Stating the father's importance and significance to the singer
He'll probably go out
Predicting the father's behavior in the future
(Talkin' about daddy)
Clarifying the subject matter of the conversation
Cursin', just a-fussin'
Imagining the father's posture or activity
And a-bein' mad
Assuming the father's emotional state
But I hope the good lord will understand
Expressing a pious or optimistic sentiment
That daddy's is just bein' my dad
Accepting the father's behavior as a characteristic of his personality
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHNNY WILLIAM BRISTOL, GLADYS KNIGHT, MERALD KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alejandrodiazcabrera4318
Oh, oh, yeah
Yeah, oh my mercy
Ooh, how I remember daddy
He was young and had
A built in tan yeah
And though he only stood
About a five feet seven
My daddy was a heck of a man
Yes he was, y'all
He loved us all and we knew it
Though he showed it in a very funny way
For most of the time
He was a-cussin' and fussin'
When he said what he had to say
Now, now, now
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
But one thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
Have mercy
I still remember seein' him in the backyard
Just a-pickin' and a-paintin' away
Woo, woo, woo, woo
Ooh, my brothers and sisters
Still talk about how
Daddy lost his temper that day
You see, he built a picket fence
From the garage to the house
Well, Sam, tell me what I say
The same day the garbage man
Backed into the fence
And the whole darn thing gave way
You should have been there
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
One thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
Yes, he could, y'all
Tell 'em about
Tell about your daddy
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
My daddy was a bad mouth
Watch ya say watch your mouth
Oow
Daddy wasn't no scholar, no
No, he didn't have PHd
But in my eyes and down in my heart.
My daddy means the world to me
He'll probably go out
(Talkin' about daddy)
Cursin', just a-fussin'
And a-bein' mad
But I hope the good lord will understand
That daddy's is just bein' my dad
Daddy couldn't read
Daddy couldn't write
But one thing daddy sure could do right
He could swear
Oh, lord
I declare
Yes he could, y'all
Daddy could swear
I declare
@michaelseven320
oh how i remember daddy
he was strong and had a built in tan, ( yeah )
and though he only stood about 5 feet '7'
my daddy was a heck of a man, yes he was yall
love us all and we knew it ( yeah ) though he show it very funny way
but most of the time he was cussin and fussin when he say what he had to say ( na , na , na na , na )
daddy couldn't read and daddy couldn't write but one thing daddy shoa could do right
he could swear , I declare , yes he could yall
Daddy could swear I declare ( whoo my mercy )
@jewelofaries
"Daddy couldn't read and daddy couldn't write, but one thing daddy sho could right, he could sweeeaaarrr, oh Lord I decalre." Cussin, fussin' that's my daddy" This isn't one of their biggest songs but one of my favorites. So down home. Love it !!!
@laminage
That was one of the best and last songs they recorded for Motown before leaving in 1973.
@carrienixon6663
I declare. Ooh my mercy—— still sound good. 2023.
@nickciraulo8340
That bass covers ALLLLL the notes.
@modernretroradio993
and stays in the pocket the whole trip!
@Jay-lk7bz
This is some BAAAAD MF MUSIC
@rickyburroughs9379
Happy Fathers day to all the daddy in the world 😎
@w1cod
Great tune and Gladys...smoking!
@kathyjohson1273
One of my fav Gladys Knight and the Pips songs
@doconnor1354
Happy Father's day 2023