My mama said I was born to be happy so I grabbed my shoes and a brown bag sack
Went on down to main street town and I don’t know if I’m ever coming back
America sits w/ freedom ringing, the car horns stop the children singing
I ask a question slow and true what my friend does it mean to you?

The preacher glazed me the poet praised me ceo just called me lazy
The judge and jury would not be bothered and the pretty girls all ran and hollered
The beggerman told me to go and gypsy nelly stole the show, she said
go on down to the waters edge jump on in with your shoes of lead

Mama o mama it was out by the waters edge

Ran on down to the waters edge and I contemplated what she said
I didn’t have no shoes of lead but I jumped on in to clear my head
I was swimming I was naked I was hungry I was hated
I could go to any town or I could stay right here and drown

Mama o mama it was out by the waters edge

Thank you nelly thank you gypsy you sent me to die but I’m feeling tipsy
All my spirit has woke up with a taste from that holy cup
Not religion not the bottle but a holy woman got my throttle
Open me wide and open me free right there I saw my queen

Mama o mama she was out by the waters edge

Let me tell you loud and clear what I saw when she appeared
A band of scraggled tramps and vagrants singing songs about living in a basement
Holy water like the mother shine be my branches be my vine
Take my body take my soul rock me sweet and let me roll

Mama o mama it was out by the waters edge

My mama told me I was born to be happy so I grabbed my shoes and a brownbag sack.