From the recording Rad Songs

G. Nicolson / T. Radigan

Lyrics

MAMA CAME AND GOT US KIDS BETWEEN HER DOUBLE SHIFTS
TWO OF US BY THE HAND ONE ON HER HIP
MAMA SAID YOU YOUNGUNS WAIT HERE IN THE CAR
SHE MARCHED IN THE IDLE HOUR FOUND DADDY AT THE BAR
POURED OUT HIS DRINK GRABBED OUR LAST FIVE BUCKS
WOULDN'T LET US SEE HIM TILL TILL HE SOBERED UP
SHE WANTED HIM TO BE HERO TO ALL OF US
BUT IN MY MEMORIES HE COULD NEVER BE
HALF THE MAN MY MAMA WAS

SHE WAS TOUGHER THAN THE TROUBLES
STRONGER THAN HARD TIMES
THE THINGS MOST WOMEN WISH FOR
NEVER CROSSED HER MIND
SHE JUST CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF THIS WORLD WITH LOVE
I ONLY HOPE I CAN BE HALF THE MAN MY MOTHER WAS

CHRISTMAS MORNING SHE FELT THAT LUMP
COME NEW YEARS EVE THEY GAVE HER SIX MONTHS
SHE THANKED THOSE DOCTORS FOR THEIR TIME
SHE SAID YOU'VE DONE YOUR JOB NOW I'LL DO MINE
SHE PACKED A LIFETIME INTO EVERY LAST DAY
GETTING US KIDS READY TO MAKE OUR OWN WAY
WHILE SHE WAS DYING SHE TAUGHT US HOW TO LIVE
HER WAY OF LETTING GO WAS GIVING ALL THAT SHE COULD GIVE
WHEN THAT TIME HAS COME FOR ME
I HOPE I CAN BE
HALF THE MAN MY MOTHER WAS

SHE WAS STRONGER THAN THE TROUBLES
TOUGHER THAN THE HARD TIMES
KNOWING SHE WAS BY OUR SIDE
ALL THE WORLD WAS FINE
SHE NEVER BACKED DOWN
FROM THE TRIALS OF THIS LIFE
SHE FACED EVERY ONE WITH LOVE
I HOPE I CAN BE HALF THE MAN MY MOTHER WAS