Grocery Money

She kept the twenties folded up
Behind her favorite picture of her and her daddy and her brother
Grand Canyon nineteen-something-or-other,
and the sun was going down
And they were standing with their backs to the world

Tuesday afternoons shed pick me up from school
Big yellow Buick, and wed do all the things moms and daughters do
Couple of dresses, brand new pair of shoes
She could never say no to her baby girl

Wed empty the cart one piece at a time
While the milk and the bread and the corn made the register chime
Shed stand there so confident and sunny
While I prayed we had enough grocery money

There was pan steak and peas at least once a week
She always grabbed a couple cans of Campbells soup for me
Chef Boyardee in a box and soda for the scotch
To keep our daddys disposition good
He worried more than a daddy should

Emptied the cart one piece at a time
While the milk and the bread and the corn made the register chime
Shed stand there so confident and sunny
While I prayed we had enough grocery money

And I never thought twice
About her sacrifice
One afternoon a week shed spend her afternoon on me
And I got anything I wanted
And wed hide it in my closet

Wed empty the cart one piece at a time
While that milk and the bread and corn made the register chime
And shed stand there so confident and sunny
And shed look down and smile, and call me honey
While I prayed we had enough grocery money