Evening Shade

Album: My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy (1969)
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  • (Dolly Parton)

    My train of thought was broken by a sudden burst of laughter
    Something badly needed to brighten up the chores
    Seemed old Mrs. Bailey had accidentally fell
    In the water being used to scrub the floors
    Now Mrs. Bailey was the meanest matron at the home
    She believed in lots of work with little play
    And we laughed till we bent double
    Though we knew we'd get in trouble
    But trouble's all we had at evening shade
    Now evening shade was where they claim to teach you understanding
    To teach you love and keep you off the streets
    And all the kids that live here are said to be a problem
    Juvenile delinquents so to speak

    But understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger
    An iron has no gentle touch and love ain't learned from hate
    The reason we were here is 'cause we had no one who cared
    But they cared even less at evening shade

    Little Susan Bradley, one night had wet her bed
    Mrs. Bailey took the razor strap and beat her half to death
    And I knew that something must be done to put an end to this
    And so I started talking plans with the older kids

    Plans were that Joe Johnson would steal the kerosene
    And I would get some matches when nobody seen
    Beckie Adams would make sure the kids were all outside
    Billy Watson would look out for the evil eye

    Now Mrs. Bailey took a nap at three o'clock each day
    We knew that she'd be a'sleeping as the plans got underway
    Now that its all over and the sun is going down
    There's no evening shade 'cause we burned it to the ground

    Writer/s: DOLLY PARTON
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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