Lyrics
Your mama wasn't one to mess around with
Had a fleet of cars and all those flashy clothes
Taught you the discipline of doin' what she told
Kept her fist around the money tightly closed
She had all you kids to think of
One more precious than the rest
Big brothers runnin' wild
You learned to kick your heels in style
Didn't you have it worse or have it best?
When you grew like a California rose
The color of your clothes bloomin' even as the earth cracked and dried
You sang easy and so sweet
The dust under your feet opened your heart
Natural as can be
Mama never suffered any in-laws
Ran 'em all away eventually
Had a plan to keep you near
Sold your boy who took her deep
Down to City Hall, a teenage bride-to-be
Next came along the baby carriage
Blessed event came unforeseen
No child in mama's eyes
Circumstance easy to hide
Where did you put your loyalty?
When you cried like a California rose
Scarlet crimson rose fading even as you reached to the sky
You sang heavy and so sweet
Your heart it barely beat
From the hurting it would carry from now on
No one would ever say
You'd hesitate to take the blame
I'm still wondering today
Where is your name in that Hall of Fame?
When you grew like a California rose
The color of your clothes bloomin' even as the earth cracked and dried
You sang easy and so sweet
The dust under your feet opened your heart
Just as natural as can be
Had a fleet of cars and all those flashy clothes
Taught you the discipline of doin' what she told
Kept her fist around the money tightly closed
She had all you kids to think of
One more precious than the rest
Big brothers runnin' wild
You learned to kick your heels in style
Didn't you have it worse or have it best?
When you grew like a California rose
The color of your clothes bloomin' even as the earth cracked and dried
You sang easy and so sweet
The dust under your feet opened your heart
Natural as can be
Mama never suffered any in-laws
Ran 'em all away eventually
Had a plan to keep you near
Sold your boy who took her deep
Down to City Hall, a teenage bride-to-be
Next came along the baby carriage
Blessed event came unforeseen
No child in mama's eyes
Circumstance easy to hide
Where did you put your loyalty?
When you cried like a California rose
Scarlet crimson rose fading even as you reached to the sky
You sang heavy and so sweet
Your heart it barely beat
From the hurting it would carry from now on
No one would ever say
You'd hesitate to take the blame
I'm still wondering today
Where is your name in that Hall of Fame?
When you grew like a California rose
The color of your clothes bloomin' even as the earth cracked and dried
You sang easy and so sweet
The dust under your feet opened your heart
Just as natural as can be