Mom was cooking bread
She wore a dirty raggety scarf around her head
Always had her stockings low
Rolled to her feet, she just didn't know
She wore a sloppy dress
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 ashamed
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 my mom died on a weekend trip to spain
She never got out of the house
never even boarded a train
I married a guy, was livin' high
I didn't want him to know her
She had a grandson, two years old
I never even showed her

I'm livin' in shame, momma, I miss you
I'm livin' in shame, momma, I miss you

Came the telegram
Mom passed away while making homemade jam
Before she died, she cried to see me by her side
She always did her best, ah! Cookin', cleanin'
Always in the same old dress
Workin' hard down on her knees
Always try'n to please
Momma! Momma! Do you hear me, momma!
Momma! Momma! Do you hear me, momma!