|
Mammie delivered me into this world |
|
Mammie watched my mama die at my birth |
|
And Mammie she loved me she took me to raise |
|
Mammie was all |
|
I had on this earth |
|
Let's get in the firewood, |
|
I'd hear Mammie say |
|
Let's go to the spring before it gets dark |
|
And you do up the dishes while the water's still hot |
|
And don't throw that dishwater out in the yard |
|
Oh Mammie taught me how to sing a song |
|
She taught me to play her old guitar |
|
And at night before bedtime we'd sing for hours |
|
As the teakettle whistled along on the fire |
|
And at night as |
|
I laid alone in my bed |
|
I'd hear Mammie praying and each night she said |
|
Oh dear God help me raise her to know right from wrong |
|
And I pray she'll do right even after |
|
I 'm gone. |
|
I'd wait until |
|
Mammie had fallen asleep |
|
Then out of my window |
|
I'd quietly sneak |
|
And I'd wait by the mill pond according to plans |
|
And there in the darkness |
|
I'd meet a man |
|
Oh it's not that |
|
I wanted to bring |
|
Mammie shame |
|
I just couldn't control wild blood in my veins |
|
They tell me my mama could not name my dad |
|
So I guess it was natural for me to be bad |
|
One night |
|
I awoke at the sound of my name |
|
Come quickly, |
|
I heard Mammie cry |
|
She said you be good and |
|
I told her |
|
I would and |
|
That night |
|
I watched as my |
|
Mammie died |
|
All I have now are the memories of |
|
MammieAnd the goodness that loving her brought me |
|
Although she is gone in my heart she lives on |
|
And I know how much good she taught me. |
|
Ah Mammie, |
|
I'm being good |
|
Mammie ... |
