Mama don't like your holey shoes Scrapping in the back yard - 4 Be 2 Daddy's smokin' motor didn't make it up the hill Mama can't pay, she got one day, she got no money for the telephone bill Tighten up, tighten up Everything falls apart Mama says to Papa now - Where ya been? Papa says I'm sorry mama, I got a full skin Mama get excited, she having an attack Mama spins round, daddy hits the ground For too long now she been taking up the slack
Tighten up, tighten up Everything falls apart Jimmy coming home now - see him on the run Mama's going through the cupboards--looking for a can Daddy on a ladder, T.V. on the blink Mama can't think, Daddy's feeling like a drink And all the dirty dishes Lord are piling up the sink Tighten up, tighten up Everything falls apart Tighten up, tighten up Everything falls apart