I feel my neck a-burnin' from your rapid heavy breathing
And with the soul-bindin' glance our eyes would dance
And I held him uncomfortably tight
With the pale moon in his eyes
Dear mother why'd you teach me not to cry?


I learned a lot from singing and I learned a lot from being
A child who often held her head too high
And I keep it inside where my tendencies lie
I wished it away all the while
Dear mother why'd you teach me not to cry?


Mama never taught me how to cry
Still I'm here takin' notes all the time
Sure got a lotta questions on my mind
Mama never taught me how to cry


I took some time a-walkin'
'neath the yellow bird found squawkin'
Her cries they echoed bright and shook me through
AndI fell to my knees and my shoulder you squeezed
And I felt the jealousy rise
Dear mother why'd you teach me not to cry?

Mama never taught me how to cry
Still I'm here takin' notes all the time
Sure got a lotta questions on my mind
Mama never taught me how to cry

My brother swung last winter
'neath the tree that gave me splinters
On my hands and on my arms and on my feet
And I tried to decide where my feelings should lie
With bloodied hands I swept it aside
Dear mother why'd you teach me not to cry?


Mama never taught me how to cry
Still I'm here takin' notes all the time
Sure got a lotta questions on my mind
Mama never taught me how to cry