I don't know how I'm gonna tell you I can't play with you no more I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me My friendthe boy next door I can't believe what people saying Gonna let your hair hang down I'm satisfied to sit here working all day lo-o-o-ong You're in the darker side of town And when I'm out I see you walking Why don't your eyes see me Could it be you've found another game to play What did mama say to me That's the way Ohthat's the way it ought to beahh-ohhohh-ahhahh-ahhohh-ohhdon't you know Mama saidohhmama said That's the way it ought to stayohh-hoh And yesterday I saw you standing by the river And weren't those tears that filled your eyes And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying Had they got you hypnotized And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers But all that lives is born to die And so I say to you that nothing really matterrs And all you do is stand and cry I don't know what to say about it When all your ears have turned away But now's the time to look and look again at what you seeohhh Is that the way it ought to stay That's the way Ohhthat's the way it oughta beoh-hohoh-hohoh-hohoh-hohoh-hohno-no-no Ohdon't you know now Mama saidohmama said that's the way it's gonna stayoh-hohoh-hohohhh Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh Ahhh ahhhhh