Mama mother told me, when I was quite a child (2x)
I say the life that you are living will kill you after a while

I just begin to realize the things my mother say (2x)
Since I been down here I been mistreated this way

I never loved no one woman, hope to God I never will (2 x)
All these triflin' women will get some good man killed

Now I ain't no monkey and I sho' can't climb a tree (2x)
And I ain't gonna let no woman make no monkey out of me

Now I sent my baby a brand new twenty-dollar bill (2x)
If that don't bring her, I know my shotgun will