Reunion

Mama, can I? Huh? Mama, can I? Huh, huh?

Can I, mama? Won't you please let me, mama? Can I? Huh?

That's the sweetest little dress, Sally, where'd you get the pattern?

Made me one just like it out of yellow dotted Swiss

Yes, I guess we got the earliest garden in the county

Beneath the strawberries are a heap o' snappin' greenbeans

(It's been so long since I saw you, how's your family?)

(Too bad about your boy)

Mama, make Willie quit pullin' at my hair

Mama, ouch, ouch, mama, just make Willie quit it

Tommy, if you don't put down that stick

I'm gonna wear you out with it, boy, and be quick

Come quick, Sammy Jean stuck her finger in a Coke bottle

(Dad finally had his operation)

Can't get it out 'cause it's stuck, stuck, stuck

(You know how he is at puttin' off things)

Now, I told you my mama didn't raise no fools

I can do anything if I got the right tools

Mama, can I? Huh? Mama, can I? Huh, huh?

Can I, Mama? Won't you please let me, mama? Can I? Huh?

The crops been failin', Lord, it sure is dry

You'd think that we'd get a sprinkle by and by

(Family reunion, listen to 'em talk, listen to 'em talk, talk)

Gonna tear you up, girl, gonna get a switch

You better tell your cousin that you're sorry that you hit her

(Ida McGuinness's in love with Abell's oldest boy)

(It's apt to kill her ma)

If I told you once, it's been a thousand times

Quit askin' your uncles for nickels and dimes

Mama, make Willie quit pullin' at my hair

Mama, ouch, ouch, mama, just make Willie quit it

I told you my Mama didn't raise no fools

I can do anything if I got the right tools

(Family reunion, listen to 'em talk, listen to 'em talk, talk)

Did it again, put her finger in a Coke bottle

Can't get it out 'cause it's stuck, stuck, stuck

(I heard this mornin' they dragged the Tallahatchie River)

(And found poor Billie gone)

Ah, a little head cold, that's all you have

You can fix it right up with a jar of Vick's salve

It's the first time ever that the family been together

It's so nice that we all get along so well

(Family reunion, listen to 'em talk, listen to 'em talk, talk)

He's got the money, you'd think that he'd try

To do somethin' for his mama before she died

Now, I don't mean to criticize your cookin', no I don't

But I think that you could add a little bit of pepper

(Harvey, I'd love to have your recipe)

(Is that the cake you served last Sunday?)

I told you my mama didn't raise no fools

I can do anything if I got the right tools

Mama, make Willie quit pullin' at my hair

Mama, ouch, ouch, mama, just make Willie quit it

Why, yes, I guess

And don't you look nice in your Sunday dress?

Doesn't Sally look tacky in her silly little dress?

You can see that she just doesn't know no better

(Can you imagine, she let her daughter, Rosalie)

(Go off to Memphis by herself)

Mama, can I? Huh? Mama, can I? Huh, huh?

Mama, won't you please let me, mama, mama? Can I? Huh?