Mama Had a Stove
Rhythmic Tales from Baton Rouge: Mama's Stove Chronicles
Lyrics
They say that I'm a loner
Expressing that others perceive the speaker as a loner.
They say that I'm a stooge
Indicating that people label the speaker as a stooge (a subordinate or foolish person).
But all I've ever wanted
The speaker's true desire is to return to Baton Rouge.
Was back in baton rouge
Reflecting on nostalgic feelings associated with Baton Rouge.
We'd paddle up the river
Recalling memories of paddling up the river.
Go fishin' in a stream
Describing a peaceful activity of fishing in a stream.
We'd see the people drinkin'
Observing people drinking by the Mississippi Queen.
On the mississippi queen
Referencing a riverboat or a metaphorical journey on the Mississippi River.
Chorus:
Beginning of the chorus.
And mama had a stove
Highlighting the significance of the mother's stove in the family.
And daddy had a still
Noting the father's involvement in distilling alcohol with a still.
Then daddy ran away
Revealing that the father left with his second cousin Jill.
With his second cousin jill
Continuing the narrative of the father's departure.
I left home at ten
Narrating the speaker's departure from home at the age of ten.
I joined a carnival
Joining a carnival became the speaker's new path.
Washin' down the elephants
Recalling a job of washing down elephants in the carnival.
Life was never dull
Life in the carnival is described as never dull.
One night when the clowns
Referring to a particular night when the clowns in the carnival got drunk.
Had all got drunk
Describing the festive atmosphere among the clowns.
I sneaked into your wagon
Describing an act of sneaking into someone's wagon during the festive night.
And rifled through your trunk
Rifling through someone's trunk during the night of revelry.
Chorus repeat
Repetition of the chorus.
And mama raised us up
Highlighting the mother's influence in raising the speaker with a strong moral value.
To never tell a lie
Emphasizing the importance of honesty instilled by the mother.
Except when there's a secret
Allowing exceptions to telling the truth when dealing with secrets and nosy neighbors.
Where the neighbors tend to pry
Repetition of the mention of the mother's stove as a central element in the family.
Mama had a stove repeat x2
Continued emphasis on the mother's stove, possibly for symbolic or nostalgic reasons.
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