Mama gets high when a good man in the morning

Gives her tea and takes her milk and apple pie

Mama don't cry when a main man is gone and

Has left her with that sweet ol' "bye and bye"



Mama couldn't pay the rent

The price of booze no cheaper

Lonely nights are often spent

In Billiard Halls and bar-room brawls



Mama gets by, but her men find her saying 

You're good, but you ain't like you used to be

Mama don't cry when it's dues that she's paying

It's him she's waiting by that door to see



Turn your light down low, woman



Mama, Mama, oooh

Mama, Mama



Mama still remembers his eyes

Like a road map of New York city

She always had forgiven his lies

She loved that man, and then he ran



I tell you Mama gets high when a good man in the morning

Gives her tea and takes her milk and apple pie

Mama don't cry when a main man is gone and

Has left her with that sweet ol' "bye and bye"



Hi Mama, I think I'd better say just one more time

Bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by, bayou-by

Oh bye bye