My mama don't understand
She's impossible to the core
Now she says that she's gettin' married

He's a friend of a friend of the boy next door

He's got all of the best intentions

Half of a school degree
But when he does his song and dancin'
They know they can be happy as the shows on TV


She needs a change, she wants a life
Where she can grow and they can thrive

Some kind of space of her own

A different view

Another slant
Another way
Another chance

To get on with her life

(Mama she don't understand)

Mama she don't
She don't even know
She don't know

She don't understand

She's gotta know

If she can cut life on her own
But like the man says,
"You can never go home again"


You gotta come see the new place
Mom, you're gonna feel right at home

Could you just front that deposit
Mama, we'll pay you back when the welfare check comes
Nothin's gone as expected

No one knows all the trouble we've seen
But we'll pull ourselves together
It's the two of us now

Of course, baby makes three

A little luck

An even break
We'll find a way
To have our cake

And even eat a piece or two

We'll show you how

We're winnin' now
We'll live it up
Can't keep 'em down


Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Woh-wa-no-no-no-no

Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Woh-wa-no-no-no-no


She don't understand me
She don't understand me


So mama, please understand
(Mama, please understand)
If it's possible, we implore

Could we just move in these few things
We won't get in the way
And we'll sleep on the floor

Cuz, times have been getting tougher
(Times have been getting tough)
It's an unfriendly world outside

They say things will pick up by summer
Can we borrow the car
Will you watch little Clyde,

Thanks a lot

Woh-wa-no-no-no-no

Mama don't understand
Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Mama don't understand me
Woo-wa-doo
Woo-wa-doo-ooo


Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Mama don't understand
Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Mama don't understand me

(Mama don't understand me)
Woo-wa-doo
Woo-wa-doo-ooo
(Mama don't understand me, no)


Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
Mama don't understand
Woh-wa-no-no-no-no
She don't understand me
(Mama don't understand me)

Woo-wa-doo
Woo-wa-doo-ooo
(Mama, she don't understand me, yeah)