Shirley Caesar - Don't Drive Your Mama Away lyrics

There was a mother that had two sons One of the boys was interesting in his self This son loved his mother so very much He said mama one day I going to grow up and going to college I'll going to be somebody I'll going to take care of you mama Like you been taking care of me Oh That other brother he was no good he stayed in trouble all the time Mama always had to go to court and get the boy out of trouble But I am told tonight those boys grew up One went to college That no good son left home That old mother worked her finger to the bone And sent that boy to school She gets on her knee and scrub floors She took in washing and ironing I want I want I want my boy to be somebody After about 8 long years That some came back home He said mama I am a doctor now I got MD behind my name I want you to meet my wife I met her while I was in college She is a school teacher mama Yes she is They told that mama we want you to come and live with us and help us raise our children The years went on by I wish I had a praying church And that the children grew up One day that school teacher went to her husband She said honey your mama is in the way now She gets in the away around the house She uses bad English I don't want it to rub off on my little children I think you ought to put her in a old folk home Somebody say yeah Yeah Let me tell you what he did The doctor went to his poor mama He said mama Mama So me and my wife been talking and she seem to feel that Mama that you're getting in the way around the house We don't have anything else for you to do You using bad English we don't want you to rub on our children I am going to take you to an old folk home Yes I am Somebody say yeah I got to take you to an old folk home Well that mother turn around and went back into her own room Tears running down her face She began to pack all of her clothes The devil came and whisper in her ear See there old lady Look at all you done for that boy and now he about to throws you out the door The mother kept on crying Early the next morning the some came and knocks on the door He said Mama get your stuff together the limousine is waiting outside The mama reaches back and got her hat and coat She walked outside the house She got in that long long long She got in that long limousine Yes she did They started down the road Mama just kept on crying Every now and then the doctor looked back at mama He said, mama in your room out there I wish you help me out there You're going to have a color TV You will have nurses around the clock You going to have everything that you want That mama kept on crying Yes Mama I'm sorry I got to do this Halleluiah I go to put you in an old folk home The mother turns and said with tears running down her face She said son I could understand If I was sick and could not help myself But there is nothing wrong with me Doctor said I know but I got to put you in an old folk home You understand me and the wife About the time they almost got to the old folk home That mama looked down the road About the time the car got closer That mother said wait a minute wait a minute son I believe that I saw my boy going there They got out Greeted on another with a kiss That no good son said mama how have been you doing? I was on my way home to see you I was on the say to tell you I do not do what I use to do I stop by a church on night and I got the holy ghost Stay in Then he turned around and saw his brother He said brother where are taking my mama? I got to know where you going with mama And the doctor said now waits a minute After all you've been gone And I am the one who been here taken care of mama Say, in case if mama did not tell you I am a doctor now I am somebody In just in case if you want to know something else I'm tired of mama praying, moaning and groaning in her bedroom Every time when my friends com to the house Well we on our way to the old folk home Yes That no good son of said did you say you are taking mama to the old folk home? He said yes Wait a minute. Mama I do not live in fine home Listen mama I got one good room You could have my bed But come on and go home with me mama Yeah Mama I don't eat steaks I eat beans and green potatoes and tomatoes Yes I do If that is alright with you You don't have to go the old folk home Come on and go home with me mama Mama. I am not riding in a long limousine My car is not much good But I got a good seat right by there Come on and go home with me mama God gave you your mama Don't drive her away God gave you your mama Don't drive her away If you drive her away You're gonna need her help one day I'm no stranger, don't drive me away. I'. no stranger don't drive me away You're gonna need my help someday I'm no stranger, don't drive me away