Child Of The Blues

Oh, I grew up in a welfare state where the winters were cold and the cheques came late
With hand-me-down clothes and a hole in my heart, it seemed nothing could fill a child of the blues

Mamma was lonely, she left us at night
She said, "You be good, and lock door tight,"
But I couldn't sleep for wondering if she would return...'cause sometimes you lose

Mama was crying when the sheriff came in, like being on welfare is some kind of sin
All of our things tossed out in the street
Wish I knew what to do, but it ain't no use

They said that we're lazy, ignorant poor
We get there too late, they lock up the door
The shelter is warm, but it sure ain't no home
Is this paying your dues?
Child of the blues

Oh, I grew up in a welfare state where the winters were cold and the cheques came late
With hand-me-down clothes and a hole in my heart, it seemed nothing could fill the child of the blues