Ever since I was a girl my own mother vowedI must find the way to power through a noble browI married once for love then my sences cameI must marry for the stature of my husband's nameOnto marriage number twoI knew what I had to doAnd my poor husband fell ill in a year or twoSolved problem number one now to problem number twoHis doe-eyed little girl with gentle point of viewWould I ship her off to schoolNo I told her if she stayed that she'd haveTo earn her keep and so she became the maidShe was lazyShe was crazyShe was talking to the miceI moved her to the attic out of sight and out of mindI could have thrown her out but I'm benevolent and kindMother your heart's too big for youI knew what I had to doAfter all difficult children will take advantage of your good natureSo you lock them up throw away the keyThere's one on every family treeUngratefulHatefulVile too the things she put you throughBreak their spirit so they obeyNow they'll do anything you sayMaybe you'd call it cruel butOthers would call it loveTough love
