How Come You Treat Me So Bad
Southside Johnny Lyrics


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I wonder where's my baby tonight
She ain't never around when I want her
Hey Southside, have you seen my baby?
No man, I ain't seen her
Well I been hearing some talk
Are you sure you haven't seen my baby?
Oh no.
Here, here she goes now
Well step out the way
I got to do some talking

Listen here baby to what I say
I break my back working hard all day
And just when I need a little sympathy
you ain't home

I know now baby that I don't ask much
Just a little respect and a loving touch
If I support two people the why am I living alone

Then I wonder
How come you treat me so bad
Your the most loving woman I ever had
How come you treat me so bad
girl I got to know

I got to find out what's going on
All the women stop and they give me the eye
But the woman I love don't even wonder why
I ain't good looking, but I know spending my money
Another man might get her off town
But if your the one that's like messing around
Well I ain't laughing
But something sure seems funny
Don't it

Hey Southside, there's something familiar about that shirt
Well eh.
I like to talk to you but I got to play a little something here.

I ask for cooking and you give me food
I ask for, and you give me
I am asking for time and you tell me I am already to late
What you mean?
Someday, girl, you might change you mind
You realize what you left behind
I got news for you baby
I just might not wait, no more

How come you treat me so bad
Your the most loving woman I ever had
How come you treat me so bad
I am tired of being lonely and I feel so sad
How come you treat me so bad
Your the most loving woman I ever had
How come you treat me so bad
Girl, I got to know

That woman makes me so tired
How long can this go on
She's just like her mother
Yeah I know what you mean
What you mean, you know what I mean?
Well don't get excited
I am talking about my baby
Who your talking about?
I was just
Hey where did you get that shirt?
This is my shirt
Did my baby give you my shirt?
Wait a minute




I paid 12 dollars for that shirt
This is my shirt

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of How Come You Treat Me So Bad by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes speak of the singer's frustration with his significant other's absence and neglect. He wonders why his partner is never around when he needs her and asks if Southside has seen her. There is some talk going on, and he is concerned. When he finally gets to talk to her, he expresses his dissatisfaction with her attitude. He works hard all day, and just when he needs a little sympathy, she isn't there for him. He doesn't ask for much, just some respect and love, but he feels alone despite supporting two people.


The singer then wonders how come she treats him so bad, calling her the most loving woman he ever had. He is puzzled and confused by her actions, especially since other women consider him attractive. He suspects that she might be messing around, and he is not laughing, even though something seems funny to him. He offers to wait, but warns her that someday he might not. The song ends with a humorous exchange between him and Southside about a shirt they both own.


Line by Line Meaning

I wonder where's my baby tonight
I'm curious where my partner is tonight.


She ain't never around when I want her
My partner is never around when I need her.


Hey Southside, have you seen my baby?
Have you seen my partner, Southside?


No man, I ain't seen her
No, I haven't seen her.


Well I been hearing some talk
I've been hearing rumors.


Are you sure you haven't seen my baby?
Are you really sure you haven't seen my partner?


Oh no.
No, I haven't seen her.


Here, here she goes now
There she is, I see her now.


Well step out the way
Move aside so I can talk to her.


Listen here baby to what I say
I need you to pay attention to what I'm about to say.


I break my back working hard all day
I work very hard every day.


And just when I need a little sympathy
When I need support or understanding.


you ain't home
You're not around to support me.


I know now baby that I don't ask much
I now realize that I don't ask for a lot from you.


Just a little respect and a loving touch
I just want a little respect and affection from you.


If I support two people the why am I living alone
If I'm providing for both of us, why am I still alone?


Then I wonder
I often wonder.


How come you treat me so bad
Why do you treat me poorly?


Your the most loving woman I ever had
You are the most loving partner I've had.


How come you treat me so bad
Why do you treat me poorly?


girl I got to know
I need to know why you treat me this way.


I got to find out what's going on
I need to investigate and figure out what's happening.


All the women stop and they give me the eye
Other women show interest in me.


But the woman I love don't even wonder why
You, the woman I love, don't even ask why other women are interested in me.


I ain't good looking, but I know spending my money
I'm not that good looking, but I'm generous with my money.


Another man might get her off town
Another man might lure her away from me.


But if your the one that's like messing around
But if you're the one who's playing games.


Well I ain't laughing
I'm not finding this situation funny.


But something sure seems funny
Something is definitely strange about this situation.


Don't it
Don't you think the same?


Hey Southside, there's something familiar about that shirt
This shirt looks similar to one I have, Southside.


Well eh.
I'm not sure.


I like to talk to you but I got to play a little something here.
I want to talk to you, but I have to perform first.


I ask for cooking and you give me food
I ask for homemade meals, but you just give me regular food.


I ask for, and you give me
I ask for things, but you don't give me exactly what I wanted.


I am asking for time and you tell me I am already to late
I wanted more time from you, but you say it's already too late.


What you mean?
What are you trying to say?


Someday, girl, you might change you mind
You may regret your choices someday.


You realize what you left behind
You'll see what you lost.


I got news for you baby
I have something important to tell you.


I just might not wait, no more
I may not wait for you anymore.


I am tired of being lonely and I feel so sad
I'm tired of being alone and it makes me very sad.


That woman makes me so tired
That woman exhausts me.


How long can this go on
How much longer can our relationship continue like this?


She's just like her mother
She takes after her mother in some way.


Yeah I know what you mean
I understand what you're trying to say.


What you mean, you know what I mean?
Why are you questioning me when you just said you understand?


Well don't get excited
Don't be so defensive.


I am talking about my baby
I was just talking about my partner.


Who your talking about?
Who were you talking about?


I was just
I was just saying something.


Hey where did you get that shirt?
Where did you get that shirt?


This is my shirt
This shirt belongs to me.


Did my baby give you my shirt?
Did my partner give you my shirt?


Wait a minute
Hold on a second.


I paid 12 dollars for that shirt
I bought that shirt for 12 dollars.


This is my shirt
This shirt is mine.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN VAN ZANDT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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