Mama Had a Stove

Stan Ridgway

They say that I'm a loner
They say that I'm a stooge
But all I've ever wanted
Was back in baton rouge
We'd paddle up the river
Go fishin' in a stream
We'd see the people drinkin'
On the mississippi queen

Chorus:
And mama had a stove
And daddy had a still
Then daddy ran away
With his second cousin jill

I left home at ten
I joined a carnival
Washin' down the elephants
Life was never dull
One night when the clowns
Had all got drunk
I sneaked into your wagon
And rifled through your trunk

Chorus repeat

And mama raised us up
To never tell a lie
Except when there's a secret
Where the neighbors tend to pry
Mama had a stove repeat x2