My Heart Belongs to Daddy

By Cole Porter
1938

Happy Father's Day to all SOTD readers... This clever hit for Porter was from his musical Leave It to Me!, in which is was introduced by Mary Martin. She would again perform the song in the 1940 motion picture Love Thy Neighbor. Both melody and lyrics are by Porter as usual, and in this case the lyric is particularly impressive, as it is no mean feat to rhyme anything with "Daddy".

Lyrics:

I used to fall in love with all those boys who maul the young cuties
But now I find I’m more inclined to keep my mind on my duties.

While tearing off a game of golf
I may make a play for the caddy
But when I do, I don’t follow through
‘cause my heart belongs to Daddy.

If I invite a boy some night
To dine on my fine finnan haddie
I just adore his asking for more
But my heart belongs to Daddy

Yes my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn’t be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da
So I want to warn you, laddie
Though I know you’re perfectly swell
But my heart belongs to Daddy
‘cause my Daddy he treats it so well

There was a dame that a football game
Made long for the strong undergraddie
I never dream of making the team
‘cause my heart belongs to daddy

Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn’t be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da
So I want to warn you, laddie
Though I know you’re perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
‘cause my Daddy, he treats it so well.

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Oscar Peterson
Marilyn Monroe
Della Reese