| I was the baby brother, |
| 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, |
| 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, |
| 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. |
| Momma she could control me, |
| And when I was bad she’d scold me, |
| Sometimes she wouldn’t hold me, |
| And I’d cry. |
| Momma she never told me a lie. |
| Momma she never promised me the sky. |
| Momma she never told me a lie. |