All They Knowed

Ma’s cryin Pa’s drinkin Gran’s dead Gramps is depressed Long history of makin mistakes Load got to be too much ta bear Happiness ran low Sadness ran high Sis wonders, why? Brotha’ don’ know Yoused to be a time Long ago When- Ma was always laughin Pa was adancin’ Gran was livin Gramp’s was cheery Those timesis no mo’ ‘cause Ma lost a baby Pa got real angry ‘tempted to drink ‘tall away Ma done got sad Then Gran died Youngins dead and Olduns dead Gramp’s is old and tired Wished he’d died with’em Now ain’t nobody cheery nomore Sis an’ Bro caint figur’ it out Because- Mom aughta still laugh Pa oughta dance Gram’s shoulda lived Gramp’s’d be happy Life not sposed to be crappy Sis puts on old records to liven the mood Bro startsa jivin’, doin the dosey-do Sis musters up some good ole southarn food The olduns aren’t understandin whatsa’ goin on Bro tells a real kickeran Ma chuckles a dusty laugh Sis puts her palm in Pa’s Tha two commence a waltz Brotha’ fishes out an old pitcha album Finds an ole pitcha of Gram’s Gramps talks aboutter Of the times, both grand and grave Gramps lets hisself feel his immeasurable sadness Brotha’ gets Sis to play tha song Pa grabs holda Ma They go on real slow, and ease into a jive Dancin’, laughin, drinkin, They’s happy agin One lil wink is exchanged ‘tween Sis and Bro For it’s this happiness, that’s all they ever knowed.