I got up this morning
And I put on my shoes
I tied my shoes
Then I washed my face
I went to the mirror
For to comb my head
I made a move
Didn't know what to do
I tipped way forward
Got to break and run

Baby, this ain't me
Baby, this ain't me
Got so ugly I don't even know myself

I left Angola
1964
Go walking down my street
Knock on my baby's door
My baby come out
She asks me who I am
And I say, honey,
Don't you know your man?
She said my man's been gone
Since 1942
And I'll tell you Mr. Ugly,
He didn't look like you

[Repeat chorus]

Originally written and performed by Robert Pete Williams. Recorded in New Orleans, 14 November 1960. Released on the Pretige album Free Again. A different version of the song was recorded in 1966.

Paul Sanoian writes:

Robert Pete Williams was a country blues singer who did time in the Angola State Prison Farm. The song is about the changes that that stay made in him. I find that much of the instrumental sound of Beefheart is influenced by the guitar playing of Williams.

Steve Froy writes:

The inclusion of this song on the album is almost entiely due to Ry Cooder. He suggested it, he arranged it ... and he even sat with Don in the vocal booth whispering each line into his ear as a prompt. Frank Zappa erroneously told the story of Don writing this song because he'd been using his mother's Avon cosmetics and messed up his face!