My Heart Belongs to Daddy
Mary Martin Lyrics
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Those boys who maul refined ladies
But now I tell each young gazelle
To go to hell, I mean, hades
For since I've come to care
For such a sweet millionaire
I may make a play for the caddy
But when I do, I don't follow through
'Cause my heart belongs to daddy
If I invite a boy some night
To dine on my fine finnan haddie
I just adore his asking for more
But my heart belongs to daddy
Yes, my heart belongs to daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to daddy
Da da da, da da da, da da da
So I want to warn you, laddie
Though I think you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
'Cause my Daddy he treats it so well
Yes my heart belongs to daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to daddy
Da da da, da da da, da da da
So I want to warn you, laddie
Though I think you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to daddy
'Cause my Daddy he treats it so well
He treats it and treats it and then he repeats it
Yes daddy, he treats it so well
The lyrics to Mary Martin’s song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” are a cleverly crafted satire on the cultural stereotypes of women as objects of desire for wealthy men in high society. The song is a wry depiction of a woman who, despite her previous history of falling for men who “maul refined ladies,” now only has eyes for a “sweet millionaire.” She cautions anyone else who might try to take her heart away from her doting father that they will be sorely disappointed. She even goes so far as to admit that, although she may make a play for the golf caddy, it is only out of a desire for attention and does not indicate a true interest on her part. The song ends with the singer affirming that her heart belongs exclusively to her father, who treats it so well.
The lyrics of the song marry a playful, light-hearted tone with a piercing social criticism. They highlight the ways in which patriarchal norms have enforced rigid gender roles and sexual stereotypes, reducing women to objects of desire and positioning wealthy men as the ultimate object of social status and ambition. The irony in the song lies in the way it parodies these norms while at the same time conforming to them, with the woman accepting the role of the perfect daughter and dutiful subject of her father’s affections.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to fall in love with all those boys who maul refined ladies
In the past, I was attracted to rough and uncultured men.
But now I tell each young gazelle to go to hell, I mean, hades
Nowadays, I reject any advances from such men, and I make it very clear to them.
For since I've come to care for such a sweet millionaire
Recently, I have developed affection towards a kind and wealthy man.
While tearing off a game of golf, I may make a play for the caddy
During a game of golf, I may flirt with the caddy or make suggestive gestures towards them.
But when I do, I don't follow through 'cause my heart belongs to daddy
Even if I flirt with someone, I would never pursue them because my heart is already taken.
If I invite a boy some night to dine on my fine finnan haddie, I just adore his asking for more
If I do happen to invite a man to dinner, I like it when they appreciate my cooking and ask for more.
Yes, my heart belongs to daddy, so I simply couldn't be bad
I am loyal to my father (or the man I am in love with), and so I couldn't do anything that would be considered unfaithful or immoral.
So I want to warn you, laddie, though I think you're perfectly swell
Even though I find you attractive and charming, I need to be honest that my heart already belongs to someone else.
That my heart belongs to daddy, 'cause my Daddy he treats it so well
The reason my heart belongs to my father is that he takes good care of it and treats me the way I deserve to be treated.
He treats it and treats it and then he repeats it, Yes daddy, he treats it so well
My father's affection and care for me are unwavering, and he never fails to make me feel loved.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kokoken1
That's the best rendition of all the ones Mary Martin did. A real performer!
@mmjhcb
What a talent! Sorely missed.
@donaldcarletonjr.9047
It's great to see the originator of this legendary song put it across even if some of the lyrics appear to have been sanitized. One wishes the original outing of the number (the Cole Porter musical "Leave it to ME") in which Ms. Martin does a strip tease in a Siberian train station was preserved on film. But at least we have this gem! UPDATE: she more or less recreated this original version--find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r404pTC_qGI
@nickbigd
I can’t believe they rewrote the Hell/Hades line… 17 years after the show had appeared on Broadway, and everyone knew the lyrics by now.
@BTURNER1961
song written by Cole Porter, for the 1938 musical Leave It to Me! which premiered on November 9, 1938. It was originally performed by Mary Martin, who played Dolly Winslow, the young "protégée" of a rich newspaper publisher.[1]
In the original context, Dolly is stranded at a Siberian railway station, wearing only a fur coat, and performs a striptease while singing the song. Surrounded by eager Siberian men, she says that since she has met "daddy", she will flirt with other men, but won't "follow through". "Daddy" is her sugar daddy, a newspaper magnate introduced with the words, "I've come to care, for such a sweet millionaire".
@donaldcarletonjr.9047
Yup, I just wrote basically the same about the song's origins!
@arthurboehm
Bowdlerized to protect the delicate sensibilities of 50s Americans. Still, a treat.
@kokoken1
Well, the censors were a lot tougher then. Today almost anything is fair game.
@Hampnkauai
Mary Martin was a goddess!
@adajanetta1
She was only 42 when she made this video.