I dont know how Im gonna tell you
I cant play with you no more
I dont know how Im gonna do what mama told me
My friend, the boy next door

I cant believe what people saying
Gonna let your hair hang down
Im satisfied to sit here working all day lo-o-o-ong
Youre in the darker side of town

And when Im out I see you walking
Why dont your eyes see me
Could it be youve found another game to play
What did mama say to me

Thats the way
Oh, thats the way it ought to be, ahh-ohh, ohh-ahh, ahh-ahh, ohh-ohh, dont you know
Mama said, ohh, mama said
Thats the way it ought to stay, ohh-hoh

And yesterday I saw you standing by the river
And werent those tears that filled your eyes
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying
Had they got you hypnotized

And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matterrs
And all you do is stand and cry

I dont know what to say about it
When all your ears have turned away
But nows the time to look and look again at what you see, ohhh
Is that the way it ought to stay

Thats the way
Ohh, thats the way it oughta be, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, no-no-no
Oh, dont you know now
Mama said, oh, mama said thats the way its gonna stay, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, ohhh

Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh

Ahhh ahhhhh