She looks at the clock it's a quarter past nine
She hears his car as he pulls in the drive
Dinner's still waiting from hours before
She knows he's been drinking when he walks through the door
In anger he strikes out and she starts to cry
How much more can she take how much more can she lie
And she fell down the stair again but it hasn't happened since she don't know when
Was it in spring when she packed up the kids
Or maybe in winter with his job on the skids
Oh but just like before she'll have to pretend that she fell down the stairs again

A short time ago she started a job serving chicken fried steak and corn on the cob
She started out shy but she ended up sure
That a ticket to anywhere could be the cure
But he couldn't handle her change for the better
She tried to leave him but he wouldn't let her
He says he's sorry he'd never mean it he swears it won't happen again
But she's so confused she wants to believe it she just wants this nightmare to end
And she fell down the stair again
Just like before she'll have to pretend that she fell down the stairs again