I'm Livin' In Shame

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 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, was living high, I didn't want him to know her

She had a grandson, 2 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 a telegram

Mama passed away while making homemade jam

Before she died, she cried to see me by her side

She always did her best

Ah, 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