Yee-haw
Ooh
Texas, Texas (Ooh) Texas
Came into this world, daddy’s little girl
And Daddy made a soldier out of me (Ooh)
Daddy made me dance and Daddy held my hand (Ooh)
And Daddy liked his whiskey with his tea
And we rode motorcycles
Blackjack, classic vinyl
Tough girl is what I had to be
He said, “Take care of your mother
Watch out for your sister”
And oh, that’s when he gave to me
With his gun and his head held high, he told me not to cry
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot
With his right hand on his rifle, he swore it on the bible
My daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot
He held me in his arms and he taught me to be strong
He told me when he’s gone, “Here’s what you do
When trouble comes in town and men like me come around”
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Ooh
Yee, woo
Ooh
Yee-haw (Woo)
Daddy made me fight, it wasn’t always right
But he said, “Girl, it’s your second amendment” (Ooh)
He always played it cool, but Daddy was no fool
And right before he died, he said, “Remember…”
He said, “Take care of your mother
Watch out for your sister”
That’s when Daddy looked at me
With his gun, with his head held high, he told me not to cry
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot
With his right hand on his rifle, he swore it on the bible
My daddy said shoot (Yee)
Oh, my daddy said shoot (Yee-haw)
‘Cause he held me in his arms and he taught me to be strong
And he told me when he’s gone, “Here’s what you do
When trouble comes in town and men like me come around”
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot (Woo)
Ooh (Woo)
Ooh (Woo)
Ooh (Yee)
Ooh (Yee-haw)
My daddy warned me about men like you
He said, “Baby girl, he’s playing you, he’s playing you” (Ooh)
My daddy warned me about men like you
He said, “Baby girl, he’s playing you, he’s playing you (Ooh)
‘Cause when trouble comes in town and men like me come around”
Oh, my daddy said shoot (Yee)
Oh, my daddy said shoot (Yee-haw)
“‘Cause when trouble comes to town and men like me come around”
Oh, my daddy said shoot
Oh, my daddy said shoot
(Good job, Bey)
Exploring Strength and Heritage in “Daddy Lessons”
“Daddy Lessons” by Beyoncé stands out as a powerful ode to family, resilience, and cultural roots. The song weaves a narrative of a father imparting wisdom to his daughter, preparing her for the challenges of life. Set against a backdrop of Southern musical influences, Beyoncé delivers a message about the complex relationship between parent and child, and the duality of love and tough lessons. The recurring motif of the gun and the advice to “shoot” symbolizes self-defense and empowerment, urging the listener to protect themselves in a world that can be unforgiving. Through vivid storytelling and evocative imagery, the song pays homage to Beyoncé’s Texan upbringing and the formative experiences that shaped her into a strong, independent woman.
Song Credits
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Songwriters: Beyoncé, Wynter Gordon, Kevin Cossom, Alex Delicata
- Release Year: 2016
- Label: Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records