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
Youre gonna let your hair hang down,
Im satisfied to sit here working all day long,
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,
Yeah, yeah, mama say
Thats the way it ought to stay.

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 matters,
And all you do is stand and cry.
I dont know what to say about it,
When all you ears have turned away,
But nows the time to look and look again at what you see,
Is that the way it ought to stay?
Thats the way
Thats the way it oughtta be
Oh dont you know now
Mama said.. thats the way its gonna stay, yeah.