Turtle Blues

Words & Music:

Janis Joplin

Basic blues. Pick your key and wail!

I IV I

Ah, I'm a mean, mean woman & I don't mean no one man, no good, no.

IV I

I'm a mean, mean woman, I don't mean no one man, no good.

I just treats 'em like I wants to.

IV I [turnaround of choice]

I never treats 'em, honey, like I should.

Oh, Lord, I once had a daddy, he said he'd give me everything in sight.

Once had a daddy, said he'd give me everything in sight. Yes, he did.

So, I said, "Honey, I want the sunshine, you take the stars out of the night.

Come on and give 'em to me, babe, 'cause I want 'em right now."

I ain't the kind of woman who'd make your life a bed of ease.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

I'm not the kind of woman, no, to make your life a bed of ease.

Yeah, but if you, if you just wanna go out drinkin', honey,

Won't you invite me along please?

Oh, I'll be so good to ya babe, yeah! Whoa, go on!

INSTRUMENTAL:

I guess I'm just like a turtle that's hidin' underneath its horny shell.

Whoa, whoa, oh yeah, like a turtle, hidin' underneath its horny shell.

But you know I'm very well-protected. I know this goddamn life too well.

Oh! Now call me mean, you can call me evil, yeah, yeah,

I've been called much of some things around, honey, don't ya know I have!

Whoa, call me mean or call me evil

I've been called much of some things, all things around,

Yeah, but I'm gonna take good care of Janis, yeah,

Honey, ain't no one gonna dog me down. Alright, yeah!