Mean to Me

Music and Lyrics by Roy Turk and Fred E. Ahlert

Sweetheart I love you
Think the world of you
But I’m afraid you don’t care for me

You never show it
Don’t let me know it
Everyone says I’m a fool to be
Pining the whole day through
Why do you act like you do?

You’re mean to me
Why must you be mean to me?
Gee, honey, it seems to me
You love to see me cryin’

I don’t know why
I stay home each night
When you say you’ll phone
You don’t and I’m left alone.
Singing the blues and sighin’.

You treat me coldly
Each day in the year
You always scold me
Whenever somebody is near, dear

It must be great fun to be mean to me
You shouldn’t, for can’t you see
What you mean to me

You treat me coldly
Each day in the year
You always scold me
Whenever somebody is near, dear

It must be great fun to be mean to me
You shouldn’t, for can’t you see
What you mean to me

Recorded by Ruth Etting on March 11, 1929 in New York City for Columbia Records.
Originally issued on Columbia 1762 D (Matrix 148030)

The record, with Button Up Your Overcoat on the flip side sold over a million copies.

Charted in the Top 100 on Billboard for 1929

To find all references to Mean to Me on this site, click here!

Available On:
Ten Cents a Dance - Ruth Etting
ASV/Living Era
Producer: Kevin Daly
Released: 1981


Available On:
Love Me Or Leave Me - Ruth Etting
Pearl Flapper
Released: March 19, 1996


Available On:
America's Greatest Songstress - Ruth Etting
Claremont (SAF)
Released: November 25, 1997


Available On:
Ruth Etting - Radio Favorite - Ruth Etting
Vintage
Recorded:  1927-1930 - Transfer made from rare disks