Intro
D#
[Verse 1]
D# G# D#
The sweet pretty things are in bed now of course
D# G# D#
The city fathers they're trying to endorse
D# G# D#
The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse
D# G# D#
But the town has no need to be nervous
D# G# D#
The ghost of Belle Starr she hands down her wits
D# G# D#
To Jezebel the nun she violently knits
D# G# D#
G# bald wig for Jack the Ripper who sits
D# G# D#
At the head of the chamber of commerce
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude]
D#
[Verse 2]
D# G# D#
The hysterical bride in the penny arcade
D# G# D#
Screaming she moans, "I've just been made"
D# G# D#
Then sends out for the doctor who pulls down the shade
D# G# D#
And says, "My advice is to not let the boys in"
D# G# D#
Now the medicine man comes and he shuffles inside
D# G# D#
He walks with a swagger and he says to the bride
D# G# D#
"Stop all this weeping, swallow your pride
D# G# D#
You will not die, it's not poison"
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude]
D#
[Verse 3]
D# G# D#
Well, John the Baptist after torturing a thief
D# G# D#
Looks up at his hero, the Commander-in-Chief
D# G# D#
Saying, "Tell me great hero, but please make it brief
D# G# D#
Is there a hole for me to get sick in?"
D# G# D#
The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly
D# G# D#
Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry"
D# G# D#
And dropping a barbell he points to the sky
D# G# D#
Saying, "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken"
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude]
D#
[Verse 4]
D# G# D#
The king of the Philistines his soldiers to save
D# G# D#
Puts jawbones on their tombstones and flatters their graves
D# G# D#
Puts the pied pipers in prison and fattens the slaves
D# G# D#
Then sends them out to the jungle
D# G# D#
Gypsy Davey with a blowtorch he burns out their camps
D# G# D#
With his faithful slave Pedro behind him he tramps
D# G# D#
With a fantastic collection of stamps
D# G# D#
To win friends and influence his uncle
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in troube with the tombstone blues
[Interlude]
D#
[Verse 5]
D# G# D#
The geometry of innocent flesh on the bone
D# G# D#
Causes Galileo's math book to get thrown
D# G# D#
At Delilah who's sitting worthlessly alone
D# G# D#
But the tears on her cheeks are from laughter
D# G# D#
Now, I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
D# G# D#
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
D# G# D#
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
D# G# D#
He could die happily ever after
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Interlude]
D#
[Verse 6]
D# G# D#
Where Ma Rainey and Beethoven once unwrapped their bedroll
D# G# D#
Tuba players now rehearse around the flagpole
D# G# D#
And the National Bank at a profit sells road maps for the soul
D# G# D#
To the old folks home and the college
D# G# D#
Now, I wish I could write you a melody so plain
D# G# D#
That could hold you dear lady from going insane
D# G# D#
That could ease you and cool you and cease the pain
D# G# D#
Of your useless and pointless knowledge
[Chorus]
G# D#
Mama's in the factory, she ain't got no shoes
G# D#
Daddy's in the alley, he's lookin' for food
G# D#
I am in the kitchen with the tombstone blues
[Outro]
D# D#
Alright