[Verse 1]
Mamma told me
"Only lonely people gonna hold me
Only those who can't help themselves, yeah
Only those who will need my shelter"
Mamma tells me

[Chorus 1]
I believe, I believe in Mamma trying
Believe in Father lying
I believe in lovers' crying
I believe in education
Nurture and good education
Mamma gave me music lessons
Now I play the saddest songs
Is that really what Mamma wanted?
For her baby to be so haunted?
Is that really what she intended?
Mamma said this

[Verse 2]
"Hold me closer
Even though I'm a Mamma"
She told me, "You're just lonely
Help me help ya
Even though I know you're just helpless"
Mamma said this
[Chorus 2]
I believe, I believe in conversation
In good communicating
I believe in letter-writing
But now all I write are melodies (Melodies)
Simple, sweet, that simply haunt me
Little rhythms that scold and hold me
Only 'cause I know they are lonely
Mamma told me

[Refrain]
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa)
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa)
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

[Bridge]
Mamma help me, I'm helpless, I'm helpless
I'm tempted, I'm tempted
Can't you see it's only loneliness?
And it's helpless, oh, it's helpless

I took what Mamma said
And kept it forefront in my head
But now that Mamma's dead
I love how you are lonely
Help me help you hold me
I take what Mamma told me
And I read what Mamma wrote me
And I read it to you slowly
And you told me she was lonely
Oh my Mamma, she was lonely
And that's all she really told me

[Verse 1]
Mamma told me
"Only lonely people gonna hold me
Only those who can't help themselves, yeah
Only those who will need my shelter"
Mamma tells me

[Outro]
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa)
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa)
I believe in mammas trying
I believe in fathers lying
I believe in lovers crying
I believe in education
I believe in music lessons
I believe in conversation
I believe in letter-writing
I believe in mammas trying
I believe in fathers lying
I believe in mammas crying
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-maa