Ooh-ooh-ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh) Ooh-ooh-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, 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 and was living high I didn't want him to know her She had a grandson, two 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 the telegram Mama passed away while making homemade jam Before she died, she cried to see me by her side She always did her best Oh, 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