My Rumored Pa

The man that's rumored is my dad
Is rumored to have died.
If I but knew, I'd sure be sad,
But tears have been denied.

A hundred men have daddied me,
Some only for a day
And for that reason I am free
So ma can hear me say

[Chorus]
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know
Which of the men who shared your bed
Would stay to see me grow?
I never knew the man I missed
Was his hair black as crow?
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know?

I don't know all the kids I've had
There's more than I can count
Each woman's just a fading fad
You're why I'm no account

Perhaps I ought to mend my ways
I do all that I can
But I am more than just like you
I am my daddy's man

[Chorus]
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know
Which of the men who shared your bed
Would stay to see me grow?
I never knew the man I missed
Was his hair black as crow?
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know?

And so I spread my dad's gray eyes
I give out his dark skin
So many women full of lies
The bearers of my kin

[Chorus]
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know
Which of the men who shared your bed
Would stay to see me grow?
I never knew the man I missed
Was his hair black as crow?
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know?

[Chorus]
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know
Which of the men who shared your bed
Would stay to see me grow?
I never knew the man I missed
Was his hair black as crow?
Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know?

Why did I never know my pa?
Why did you never know?