Taking Mother’s Words to Heart (With Quarters Happily Jingling)
“Go down to the corner store,”
mom said like she was singing.
So off we ran, our footsteps roared,
with quarters, happily jingling.
Mom said like she was singing,
“Bring me back a cherry coke”
So off we ran, our footsteps roared,
Our little brown hands holding close
her request, “bring me back a cherry coke.”
So much better than other words
She sometimes often spoke
with a growl riffing in the tones underneath.
So much better than her other words
Like, “come here and fold the clothes.”
With a growl riffing in tones underneath,
we’d grumble, folding underwear with holes.
“Come here and fold the clothes.”
Oh, those were words I’d hate to hear,
hated underwear with holes,
but I’d fold dad’s with special care.
Oh, these words, too, I’d hate to hear:
“Mom wants you in the kitchen,”
So I’d walk in with special care
and give her instructions a listen.
“Mom wants you in the kitchen!”
“Wash the dishes in the sink,”
were her instructions, and I listened
with eyes rolling when I blinked.
“Wash the dishes in the sink,”
I’d then tell my younger brother
with eyes rolling when I blinked
as I’d run and dive for cover.
I’d then tell my younger brother,
“Take the trash out to the back.”
And he’d run and dive for cover
while my mom would simply laugh.
“Take the trash out to the back,
hurry, the trash man’s soon to come.”
And mom would simply laugh
when we would take the trash and run
in a hurry, trying to catch the trash man soon to come.
Hauling bags down burning streets,
oh, we would take the trash and run
flying quickly on bare feet.
Hauling bags down burning streets,
taking gifts to all our neighbors,
flying quickly on bare feet,
in our pockets, all mom’s favors.
Taking gifts to all our neighbors,
taking mother’s words to heart,
in our pockets, all her favors
made us feel we’d done our part.
Taking mother’s words to heart
And going down to the corner store
made us feel we’d done our part
and off we’d run, our footsteps roared,
with quarters, happily jingling.
