He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Ruth Brown Lyrics


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Mama he treats your daughter mean
Mama he treats your daughter mean
Mama he treats your daughter mean
He's the meanest man I've ever seen

Mama he treats me badly
Makes me love him madly
Mama he takes my money
Makes me call him honey

Mama he can't be trusted
He makes me so disgusted
All of my friends they don't understand
What's the matter with this man

I tell you mama he treats your daughter mean
Mama he treats your daughter mean
Mama he treats your daughter mean
He's the meanest man I've ever seen

Mama this man is lazy
Almost drives me crazy
Mama he makes me squeeze him
Still my squeezes don't please him

Mama my heart is aching
I believe it's breaking
I've stood all that I can stand
What's the matter with this man?

I tell you Mama he treats your daughter mean
Mama he treats your daughter mean




Mama he treats your daughter mean
He's the meanest man I've ever seen

Overall Meaning

Ruth Brown’s song “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean” is about a man who treats his girlfriend badly, and the girlfriend is calling out to her mother for help. The repetition of the phrase “Mama he treats your daughter mean” reinforces the idea that the man is mistreating the girlfriend and that she is seeking help. The girlfriend also admits that despite being treated badly, she loves him madly, which suggests that she is willing to put up with his bad behavior.


The song also highlights the financial abuse that the man is inflicting upon the girlfriend. He takes her money and makes her call him “honey” which implies that he is using her for her money and is not treating her with the respect that she deserves. The girlfriend is also disgusted by the behavior of the man and is struggling to understand why she is still with him.


The line “Mama my heart is aching, I believe it’s breaking” suggests that the girlfriend is aware that she needs to leave the relationship but finds it difficult to do so. The line “What’s the matter with this man?” highlights her confusion as to why the man is treating her so badly. Overall, the song conveys the feelings of a woman who is stuck in a toxic relationship and is reaching out for help.


Line by Line Meaning

Mama he treats your daughter mean
The man treats me badly and disrespectfully, as if he has no concern for my feelings or wellbeing.


Mama he treats me badly
I am mistreated and disrespected by this man, causing me pain and distress.


Makes me love him madly
Despite his mistreatment, I still love him intensely.


Mama he takes my money
The man takes my money without my consent or return, causing me financial hardship.


Makes me call him honey
He manipulates me into calling him by affectionate names to make his mistreatment seem less hurtful.


Mama he can't be trusted
I can't rely on this man to be truthful or faithful to me.


He makes me so disgusted
His behavior and actions towards me are repulsive, causing me revulsion.


All of my friends they don't understand
My friends are unable to comprehend why I stay with this man despite the way he treats me.


What's the matter with this man
I question why he acts this way towards me and what could be causing his behavior.


Almost drives me crazy
His laziness and disregard for responsibility cause me immense frustration and stress.


Mama he makes me squeeze him
He pressures me to show physical affection towards him, despite my displeasure or discomfort.


Still my squeezes don't please him
No amount of physical affection seems to satisfy him, causing me further distress.


Mama my heart is aching
I am overcome with emotional pain and distress due to this man's mistreatment and behavior.


I've stood all that I can stand
I can no longer tolerate his mistreatment and disrespect towards me.


He's the meanest man I've ever seen
I have never encountered someone so cruel and disrespectful in my life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charlie Singleton, Herb Lance, Johnny Wallace

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@stevecannon1774

Not given the respect she deserves as one of the mothers of Rock and R&B.

@ChakaKhanian

I saw this clip at The National Museum of African American Music and was mesmerized ❤

@matthays716

Rock and roll would not exist without ruth brown

@CASSICF

Wow 🤩 I heard her for the first time yesterday! With my love for music, WHY haven’t I heard of this phenomenon before now?!?!! She is amazing! Top tier 👏🏾

@marinaeugenios4190

OMG!!!! Here is a talent and such a performer!!! Where are vocalist like this today????

@LadyDuchess

They’re still in the Black church. 🤷🏾‍♀️

@billsoderholm3125

Covered up with auto tune.

@eevee2esponfan

Poofs like Taylor Swift and Arianda Grande have buried them

@blackscorpionlair5444

most of them are smoking weed & ruining they're voices

@awsome1605

50's RnB is so explosive, Ruth rocked the house!

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