Mama Lied Poem by Ramona Thompson

Dark rewrite of Merle Haggard's Mama Tried

The first thing I remember was hearing that loathsome cad sneaking
Creaking
Creeping up those noisy ole stairs to my little sis's room
All I could think of was hitching a ride
Gettin' both me and little Jessie outta that house
Outta that too small perverted town
Did't care where we were bound
As long as it would keep our ole man from sneaking around
Sniffing around his own flesh and blood
Just like a dirty old hound
No one could stop us
No one could change my mind
Then it got to be too late I guess
Woke up the next morning to find
I had lost my little Jessie forever
All 'cause mama lied

Now I'm the one and only broken rebel child
Trying desperatly to run away
Away from a shy mousy too mild mama and an alcoholic daddy too wild
Dang my mama for still letting it go on
On and on and on
Till little Jessie just could't take no more of what daddy had in store
Despite all her daily beatings at his hand
Towards the door mama would never go walkin'
Now little Jessie is gone
And I'm the one he comes still gunnin' for every night
'Cause mama just won't break down and tell him no more
No, no more

And I swear someday I'm gonna turn 21 in prison
Gonna be livin' doing life without parole
Ain't gonna let no one rob me of this night
Gotta set it all right
Pay him back in blood full
No, not my fault
It's all her
'Cause mama lied
Mama lied

Poor mama should have tried to raise me better
But my pleading, she denied
Now I'll paint these walls a not so pretty bloody red
'Cause for my livin' nightmare
I know just who to blame now
'Cause no matter how hard little Jessie and I cried
Mama always lied

Instrumental break

Too many times shot me, mama, and little Jessie his heavy load
Walked all over our hopes and dreams with those heavy steel-toed shoes
Every night without rest
Wanted only to grope these underage breasts
Mama may cry and beg
But I swear my revenge won't be denied tonight
Just like her children's pleas for mercy
Hers too will be refused

Now I'm the one and only broken rebel child
Trying desperatly to run away
Away from a shy mousy too mild mama and an alcoholic daddy too wild
Dang my mama for still letting it go on
On and on and on
Till little Jessie just could't take no more of what daddy had in store
Despite all her daily beatings at his hand
Towards the door mama would never go walkin'
Now little Jessie is gone
And I'm the one he comes still gunnin' for every night
'Cause mama just won't break down and tell him no more
No, no more

And I swear someday I'm gonna turn 21 in prison
Gonna be livin' doing life without parole
Ain't gonna let no one rob me of this night
Gotta set it all right
Pay him back in blood full
No, not my fault
It's all her
'Cause mama lied
Mama lied

2009 Ramona Thompson