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