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The Supremes - I'm Livin' in Shame

The Supremes - I'm Livin' in Shame Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Let the Sunshine In
Released: 1969

I'm Livin' in Shame Lyrics

Mom was cooking bread
She wore a dirty raggety scarf around her head
Always had her stockings low
Rolled to her feet, she just didn't know
She wore a sloppy dress
Oh no matter how she tried, she always looked a mess
Out of the pot she ate, never used a fork or a dinner plate
I was always so ashamed for my uptown friends to see her
Afraid one day when I was grown that I would be her

In a college town, away from home, a new identity I found
Said I was born elite, with maids and servants at my feet
I must have been insane
I lied and said my mom died on a weekend trip to Spain
She never got out of the house, never even boarded a train
I married a guy, was livin' high
I didn't want him to know her
She had a grandson, two years old
I never even showed her

I'm Livin' in Shame, Momma, I miss you
I know you are not to blame, Momma, I miss you

Came the telegram
Mom passed away while making homemade jam
Before she died, she cried to see me by her side
She always did her best, ah! cookin', cleanin'
Always in the same old dress
Workin' hard down on her knees
Always try'n to please
Momma! Momma! Momma, do you hear me
Momma! Momma! Momma, do you hear me

I'm livin' in shame, Momma, I miss you
I know you've done your best
Momma, I miss you
Won't you forgive me Momma
For all the wrong I've done
I know you have done your best
I know you have done your very best you could
But I never understood
Workin' hard on your knees
Momma, you were always, always tryin' to please

Writer/s: Sawyer, Pamela Joan / Wilson, Frank Edward / Gordy Jr, Berry / Cosby, Henry / Taylor, R. Dean
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'm Livin' in Shame

In the story of this song, a woman (who was born into alleged poverty) has been ashamed of her mother ever since she was a kid. After she grows up and leaves home, she lies about her past and her socioeconomic status in order to move up into higher societies and then marries a man who's well off. She ostracizes her mother and even makes up a story about her mother dying while going to Spain. On top of that, after she gives birth to her first child, she doesn't even bother to tell her mother about it. Then, one day, the woman receives a telegram saying that her mother died and she now feels extremely guilty about the damages she caused. Talk about learning a lesson the hard way!

This is a sequel to the Supremes' 1968 hit "Love Child." It was inspired by the 1959 film Imitation of Life, starring Lana Turner.

The working titles for this song were "The Eyes of Love" and "I Live in Shame." (thanks, Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2)