Broken Down Mama - Shel Silverstein And The Red Onions

Broken Down Mama Lyrics

This is Broken Down Mama,
take six thousand, seven hundred
and twenty-two
Yeah, let’s do it! (scats)
Well, Broken Down Mama, put on your hat
‘cos daddy’s gotta trade you in
Your battery’s dead
Your tires are flat
Your paint job’s running thin
Now, years ago, how you used to drive
But that was back
in nineteen hundred forty-five
So mama, now you’re all broken down
And daddy’s gonna trade you in

Mama, wipe your windshield off
Ain’t no use to sit around and bawl
Your springs are shot
Your motor’s too hot
It’s too late for a overhaul
You used to go in the latest style
But you set back your speedometer
a thousand miles
Now, mama, you’re all broken down
I’m gonna trade you in
I say, trade you right on in
Oh, yeah… it’s a song
all about automobiles
for all you sports car enthusiasts
I’m gonna get me one of those
upholstered
air-conditioned models
… with fins
Yeah, I want those big fins
Oh, yeah
Everything’s gotta be automatic
Everything
I used to drive ya
You handled sweet
But there’s been a reckless driver
in my driver’s seat
Oh, mama
You broke yourself down
Come on, I’ll trade you in
I want a sports car
Trade you in… yeah!
Lyrics Submitted by Richard Gagnon