Little girl, dreaming of the future, hears every day the same clichés
'when you're older, and a mother, you will understand

'you're too young right now; give time a chance'
..oh, I'm sorry, mommy, but I don't think I can


chorus:
how could you do this?
how could you let hatred pass over your lips?

you've ripped my heart in two...and I don't know what to do
oh, mother... how could you?


young woman, coming into her own, hears all the time
how she does nothing right
'watch your mouth,' oh, 'watch your tone...

'remember who you're speaking to... don't talk to strangers...
'don't confide in anyone but me'
oh, how am I supposed to trust anyone like you now?


chorus


'eat your vegetables, don't ever talk to anyone else...
'you'd better not ever get in trouble...
'don't let the bedbugs bite; I will hold you tight...

'stay away from your family...be everything I couldn't be'

how could you do this to me, to him?

how could you do this to our family?
how could you even think such a thing?
how could you do this to me?

how could you let hatred pass over your lips?
you've ripped my heart in two... and I don't know what to do
oh, mother... how could you?


how could you? how could you?