Mama says, don't let it get you down
I didn't do all I ought
Don't let it get you down
Mama says, don't let it get you down
Mama says, don't let it get you down
The telephone is all I have
I come home to empty house
When my plans don't work out
Now my world don't look good
Every week it's the same damn thing
Mama says, don't let it get you down
And my time is running short
Don't let it get you down
When my plans don't work out
Not the way I know it should
I get mad, I want to cry
When my plans don't work out
Don't let it get you down
There's a club I can't get in
When my plans don't work out
It's my skin they don't like