Mamma told me
Only lonely people gonna hold me
Only those who can't help themselves, yeah
Only those who will need my shelter
Mama tells me
I believe, I believe in mamma trying
I believe in father lying
I believe in lovers crying
I believe in education, nurture and good education
Mama gave me music lessons, 
Now I play the saddest songs
Is that really what mamma wanted?
For her baby to be so haunted?
Is that really what she intended?
Mamma said this:
“Hold me closer
Even though I'm a mamma”
She told me: “You're just lonely
Help me help ya
Even though I know you're just helpless”
Mamma said this
I believe, I believe in conversation
In good communicatin'
And I believe in laughter, writing
But now all I write are melodies (melodies)
Simple, sweet, and simply haunt me
Little rhythms that scold and hold me
Only cause I know they are lonely
Mamma told me
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Mamma help me, I'm helpless, I'm helpless
I'm tempted, I'm tempted
Can't you see it's only loneliness
And it's helpless, oh it's helpless
I took what mamma said and kept it forefront in my head
And now that mamma's dead
I love how you are lonely
Help me help you hold me
I take what mamma told me
And I read what mamma wrote me
And I read it to you slowly
And you told me she was lonely
Oh my mamma, she was lonely
And it's all she really told me
Mamma told me
That lonely people gonna hold me
Only those who can't help themselves, yeah
Only those who will need my shelter
Mamma tells me
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
I believe in mammas trying
I believe in fathers lying, 
I believe in lovers crying, 
I believe in education, 
I believe in music lessons, 
I believe in conversation, 
I believe in letter-writing, 
I believe in mammas trying
I believe in fathers lying
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa)