Now I'm just a simple guy, not very smart you see
I never got much learning, never won a spelling bee
But I've always yearned for the big bright lights and to be a big star on broadway
And I made up my mind a long time ago that I'd be right there someday
Oh, they said I couln't do it, but I did it
And I said to myself, I said self
Your mama didn't raise no idiot

I remember when I'se in my teens I used to work the farm
I plowed a mule from dawn til dark, never done nobody no harm
Then one weekend the mule got stuborn when I wanted to ride him to town
My daddy said son, you wanta get his attention, why don't you knock him down
Pap didn't think I'd do it but I did it
And I said to myself, I said self
Your mama didn't raise no idiot

Then later on I bought a car, my troubles really begin
I guss I've spent a million bucks and traded a thousand time since then
A real smart man then put me wise, since then my life's been gay
He said open a used car lot and driver a different one every day
He didn't think I'd do it, but I did it
And I said to myself, I said self
Your mama didn't raise no idiot