Mary & Omie

(album: Once In A Very Blue Moon - 1984)

My daddy was a longshoreman in New Orleans
My mamma kept score just watching the Mardi Gras
Oh me... I sat on the front porch watching the rails roll out
I was waiting for my Omie to take me outta this south
It was me and my sisters... like to wore that front porch out

And there can't be more to this living than loving my Omie
We're both sitting back here watching our children grow
If there's a better ace in the deck
Well, baby, come on and show me
If you ain't got a hand then get on your wheel and roll
'Cause there could never be a better hand than these hearts I hold

Me and my Omie... we settled down here in Houston
Oh, and one by one, we moved my sisters west
We bought a house in the suburbs and we've got four fine children
We are black middle class because Omie wouldn't settle for less
We are black middle class because Omie wouldn't settle for less

And there can't be more to this living than loving my Omie
We're both sitting back here watching our children grow
If there's a better ace in the deck
Well, baby, come on and show me
If you ain't got a hand then get on your wheel and roll
'Cause there could never be a better hand than these hearts I hold

My children are the first thing in my morning
My Omie is the last thing in my night
Oh, in between I dream about that porch back home
And I bless my daddy for the love within that house
But, I thank my Omie for taking me outta the south

Look at these hearts I hold... oh, look at these hearts I hold
Look at these hearts I hold... there ain't no place like home
Look at these hearts we hold... look at those hearts you hold
Hey! My Omie's got a heart of gold... look at these hearts we hold
Take a look at those hearts you hold!...