I was eight years old, got my first B+
Hid it in the basement with the Christmas stuff
Heart racin’ when he’d ask me, “Got your grades yet, hon?”
Made it three whole days ’til I ‘fessed up
He said, “No after school Coke, and no TV.”
“It’s not the B+, it’s that you lied to me.”
I remember wishin’ it was that easy
I cried the kind of tears nobody sees
That’s how daddy’s little girl grows up to be daddy’s disappointment
Waitin’ tables and shitty boyfriends
‘Cause he said, “All that potential, but you don’t have the drive.”
And all I learned how to do is how to prove him right
I’m Daddy’s disappointment
I was 15, learned my first three chords
When he finally caught me singin’ to the living room floor
He lit up like the night when a star is born
Soon my little dream wasn’t mine anymore
Every little country opry, every little country church
Singin’ someone else’s stories in someone else’s words
I hated every canned applause every damn half-verse
But the truth don’t shine through a sequin shirt
That’s how daddy’s little girl grows up to be daddy’s disappointment
Waitin’ tables and shitty boyfriends
‘Cause he said, “All that potential, but you don’t have the drive.”
And all I learned how to do is how to prove him right
I’m Daddy’s disappointment
I was 23, got my first big break
Learned how to make a living out of old heartache
Burned out 16th Avenue ’til I had nothin’ to say
Just a pawn in a game I never wanted to play
credits
from Autonomy,
released October 23, 2020
Written by Stephanie Lambring
supported by 14 fans who also own “Daddy's Disappointment”
A very clever songwriter and an album that bears many, many repeat listens. Worth the price for the Little Feat reference (in Tehachapi) alone, but it's her way with an image that sticks longest. "You left the building in a flurry / Had your boots on in the house." Caoimhín