Evening Shade

(Dolly Parton)My train of thought was broken by a sudden burst of laughter

Something badly needed to lighten 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 there are said to be a problem

Juvenile delinquents so to speakBut understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger

An iron hand has no gentle touch and love ain't learned from hate

The reason we were there is 'cause we had no one who cared

But they cared even less at evening shadeLittle 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 kidsPlans 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 eyeNow 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 because we burned it to the ground

Evening Shade was burning just like the hell it was