Turtle Blues
Composer(s): Janis Joplin
First release: Big Brother & The Holding Company - 1968
Covered by multiple other artists



Ah, I'm a mean, mean woman
I don't mean no one man, no good, no
I'm a mean, mean woman
I don't mean no one man, no good
I just treats 'em like I wants to
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, ha ha ha ha!
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!

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 hard-ass 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 worser things around
Honey, don't ya know I have!
Whoa, call me mean or call me evil
I've been called much worser 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