When I was a young man, I did not like to go to school
So me and a friend skipped class to do the things that we wanted to
We kept our fishing rods hidden in a barn just down the street
We'd catch brim and kick up rocks with our bare feet
We'd hurry back close to home and wait for the bus to pass by
Then we would slip out of the woods, all part of our plan to sale the lie

But Mama knew it did not matter what we tried to do
Mama knew just when we thought that we had a perfect plan
To keep our hearts from getting tanned, somehow, someway
It did not matter what we tried to do
Mama knew

I will never forget the first time that I laid eyes on her
I traded in my fishing buddy for the love of this girl
We'd be late for class, sneaking kisses in the halls
And school suspension kept our parents from getting called
But over those summer months, we lost all contact
Her parents made her change schools and I knew she was not coming back
I spent many a day trying to hide away my blues
I faked a smile on my face

But Mama knew, yeah
Oh, yeah
But Mama knew it did not matter what we tried to do
Mama knew just when we thought that we had a perfect plan
To keep our hearts from getting tanned, somehow, someway
It did not matter what we tried to do
Mama knew

We went back to her home when her funeral was complete
And even though she was no longer here, she was still taking care of me
I opened up her Bible inside a note I found
Telling me that she loved me and where money could be found
I tried looking through her things, but it was too hard with a lump in my throat
In her notes, she revealed to me every lie I had ever told
She said, son, we share a special connection that most dream about
And I always knew exactly what you were gonna say
Long before I ever lost your mind
Many times when you were young, you did things that I did not approve
I want you to live the rest of your life knowing just how much I always loved you