I was the quiet other
And I remember mother so well
I was the little stranger
I never was in danger
I could'a had a manger, pray tell
Oh, how she could control me
And when I was bad she'd scold me
Sometimes she wouldn't hold me, and I'd cry
But momma she never told me a lie
Momma she never told me a lie
I used to stay out evenings
Stay out too late some evenings
And momma would be there seething
Back home
Momma, she sat and waited
Sat in the hall and waited
Now I know why she hated that phone
And when I'd come in she'd grab me
Right by the arm she'd grab me
And Lord, when she was finished with me
I'd cry, oh, I'd cry
But momma she never told me a lie
Momma she never told me a lie
Oh how she could control me
And when I was bad she'd scold me
Sometimes she wouldn't hold me, and I'd cry
But momma she never told me a lie
Momma she never promised the sky
Momma she never told me a lie