Ooh-ooh-ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Mom was cooking bread
She wore a dirty, raggedy scarf around her head
Always had her stockings low, rolled to her feet
She just didn't know
She wore a sloppy dress
Oh, no matter how she tried
She always looked a mess
Out of the pot she ate
Never used a fork or a dinner plate
I was always so afraid for my uptown friends to see her
Afraid one day when I was grown
That, that I would be her
In a college town
Away from home, a new identity I found
Said I was born elite, with maids and servants at my feet
I must have been insane
I lied and said Mama died on a weekend trip to Spain
She never got out of the house
Never even boarded a train
Married a guy and was living high
I didn't want him to know her
She had a grandson, two years old
That I never even showed her
I'm living in shame
Mama, I miss you
I know you're not to blame
Mama, I miss you
Came the telegram
Mama passed away while making homemade jam
Before she died, she cried to see me by her side
She always did her best
Oh, cooking, cleaning, always in the same old dress
Working hard down on her knees, always trying to please
Mama, mama, mama, can you hear me?
Mama, mama, mama, can you hear me?
I'm living in shame
Mama, I miss you
I know you've done your best
Mama, I miss you
Won't you forgive me, Mom?
For all the wrong I've done
I know you've done your best
Ooh, I know you've done the very best you could
But I never understood
Working hard down on your knees
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