Papa Was A Good Man

(album: I Do My Swingin' At Home - 1973)

It rained all the way to Cincinnati
With our mattress on top of the car
Us kids were eating crackers and baloney
And papa kept on driving never stopped once at a bar

Then mama started talking about Jesus
And how our lives could be from now on
While papa bought a used tire in Columbus
Mama rocked the baby till all his tears were gone

She said, your papa is a good man and don't you kids forget it
The whiskey's trying to ruin him but I know the Lord won't let it
Then we sang Amazing Grace and Bringing In The Sheaves
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me

I guess we should have known papa never could quit drinking
The whiskey had too much hold on him nut he loved us and he did the best he could
And every time the world would fall all around us
Mama packed everything we owned into some old car and started out for some new town

She said, your papa is a good man and don't you kids forget it
The whiskey's trying to ruin him but I know the Lord won't let it
Then we sang Amazing Grace and Bringing In The Sheaves
Rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me