Lyrics Stan Ridgway

Stan Ridgway

Mama Had A Stove

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

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

And mama had a stove

And daddy had a still

Then daddy ran away

With his second cousin jill

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