[1] I said goodbye to that plain little mining town
With just a few old clothes that laid a-[4]-round
I knew I was leavin' a lot a [1] things that were [4] good
But I [1] thought I'd make a break while I still [5] could

As I looked back to wave once more
To mama cryin' in the door
For me and what the world might have in store
For she knew I'd never be her little girl no more

But she was driftin' back to another time
When she was young and hoped to find
A better life than what her mama's had been
But it was so they'd go of mama's hands my mama's [1] hands

[5] One old paper bag [4] filled with hand-me-[1]-downs
[5] Plain old country girl [4] raised on gospel [5] sounds
[1] With only the love she gave me and pride in what I [4] am
It was [1] hard to let go of mama's [5] hands my mama's [1] hands

I thought of all the love she gave
I thought of all the years she slaved
To try and make this run-down shack a home
A dream that really died 'fore it was born

But she pulled us through the hardest times
And made us hold our head up high
A gift we carry with us all our lives
For we were special in mama's eyes

As I looked down the dusty road
To mama and her heavy load
I knew I was leavin' i'd never find again
It was hard to let go of mama's hands my mama's hands

[5] One old paper bag [4] filled with hand-me-[1]-downs
[5] Plain old country girl [4] raised on gospel [5] sounds
[1] With only the love she gave me and pride in what I [4] am
It was [1] hard to let go of mama's [5] hands my mama's [1] hands
It was [1] hard to let go of mama's [5] hands my mama's [1] hands