Walking down the levee with my head hangin' low
 Looking for my mama but she ain’t here no more
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 She won’t cook my dinner, won’t wash my clothes
 Won’t do nothing but walk the road
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 My breakfast on the table and my coffee’s getting cold
 And mama’s in the kitchen getting a sweet papa talk
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 Sometimes I think my baby’s too good to die
 Sometimes I think she should be buried alive
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind 
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 I wish I had a nickel, I wish I had a dime
 I wish I hadn’t give myself a fabulous time
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 Look at you mama, see what you got it done
 You got my money now you broke [bad word]  Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying

 You made me get mad and you made me get sad
 Going … than you have ever had
 Baby you don’t know, you don’t know my mind
 When you see me laughing, I’m laughing just to keep from crying.