My mama told me lots of things About the life we lead Told me it was too easy To live a life of greed
She said you'll be a good man And I'll be proud of you 'Cause you can't do no better If that's all you learn to do
All we got is one short life Far as we can find And if you don't know how to live The world will be unkind
No, no curse upon my name No way I look at a bad guy And think that I'm the same No, I won't be blamed I live without dishonor I won't have to die ashamed
Old lady told me plenty She told me what to do How to act in society How to make it through
She said always mind your manners And don't you talk no trash And if you hear somebody dissing you Go over and kick his ass One thing is for certain By all we know and love If you compromise your integrity You should drown in your own blood
No, no curse upon my name No way I look at a bad guy And think that I'm the same No, I won't be blamed You live without dishonor You don't have to die ashamed
So, even though I'm old and weird I remember what she said I always knew that she was right So, I kept it in my head
I never tried to hurt the world I never was drove by greed Believe I mostly did my best What more do you want from me?
All there is, is one short life Far as we can find And if you don't know how to live You're gonna lose your mind
No, no dirt upon my name No way I look at a bad guy And thing I share blame No, I'm not the same As I live and die, I'm certain I refuse to die ashamed