Oh, she's tender but she's tough And still willing to love If there's a man enough to be her man But right now her hands are full Fighting back the tears and the wolves But she keeps smiling just as hard as she can Chorus She's twenty-nine and holding the world on her shoulders They're all counting on mama And she ain't about to let them down (Oh) There's no time to worry about turning thirty When you're twenty-nine and holding The world on you shoulders Yes, the one who she once loved Just didn't have the guts To be a lover or father or much of a man Yeah, he just had to have his space So she put him in his place Out in the road with his suitcase in his hand Repeat Chours Bridge Well, it's the kids and it's the job It's the kitchen and it's the mop Hey, it's the life of a woman that's on her own And Lord, I just gotta say That we all ought to be ashamed If our biggest trouble is just turning old and gray Repeat Chours She's twenty-nine and holding the world on her shoulders