Fooled Me Once - Greg Brown

My Mama died when I was sixteen

She was shitfaced behind the wheel

They made me go to the graveyard

I would not pray or kneel

I don’t pray to no god who takes your Mama

And leaves you in a house full of junk

With a stepdad who gets all lovey dovey

Every time that he gets a little drunk

They fooled me once-I took it on the chin

But I’ll be damned if they fool me again

Took off out of high school and joined the army

People said that ain’t no place for a girl

People 'round here don’t know what’s going on

I wanted to see the world

All I saw was a hot flat field

And a sergeant the size of a sow

The only thing they taught me was how to run

Well let’s see 'em try to catch me now

I met a guy and he talked real nice

And he looked good down on his knees

But now I’m the one who had the kid

And the one that lost the car keys

Now every time I fall in love

I only fall so far

Well they can have a piece of me

But they shouldn’t try to take my car

So now I come dancing up to you

Shaking 'em in your face

If you got a dollar, fish it out

And stick it in the right place

I need some things the same as you

And my expenses run high

Soon as I pay off this guy I owe

Me and my kid are gonna fly

They fooled me once-I took it on the chin

But I’ll be damned if they fool me again