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 sayin
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 said
Thats the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh

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 oughta be
Oh dont you know now
Mama said, mama said thats the way its gonna stay, yeah