Her momma's still got that sequin gown that she wore in '68
She taught her early how to smile that smile and wave from the parade
It took a whole lot of years and tears
For her momma to finally admit
No matter how many stitches and pins
That old dress was never gonna fit

She was daddy's little girl
Momma's little angel
Teacher's pet, pageant queen
She said All my life I've been pleasin' everyone but me,
Waking up in someone else's dream

Her daddy used to say, You'll make a lovely bride someday
He'll ride up on big white horse and just carry you away
It took twenty-five years and some broken vows
Before they'd finally see
There's a little more to love and life
Then fairy tales and hand me down dreams

She was daddy's little girl
Momma's little angel
Teacher's pet, pageant queen
She said All my life I've been pleasin' everyone but me,
Waking up in someone else's dream

Now she's got twenty-seven candles on her cake
And she means to make her life her own
Before there's twenty-eight

She was daddy's little girl
Momma's little angel
Teacher's pet, pageant queen
She said All my life I've been pleasin' everyone but me,
Waking up in someone else's dream

There's something 'bout your manner
That makes it hard to see
Just how you take advantage
Of a workin' girl like me
I've seen you set 'em up
And I've seen you take 'em down
Our love is legal tender
For your kind to pass around

Don't want your bed of roses
Don't want no handful of thorns
Don't want to be your livin' doll
Don't want to be no woman scorned
I don't want to watch you turn the page
When our chapter closes
No, I'm not gonna lay me down
In your bed of roses

I've tasted good and bad love
In the honky-tonks and bars
I've settled for the moon
When I was reachin' for the stars
And though sometimes I have stumbled
I've been known to fall
It was always true love
That took me to the wall

Don't want your bed of roses
Don't want no handful of thorns
Don't want to be your livin' doll
Don't want to be no woman scorned
I don't want to watch you turn the page
When our chapter closes
No I'm not gonna lay me down
In your bed of roses

Girl you better hide your love away
Girl you better save it for another day

Linda works the diner pourin' coffee slingin' hash
She said, I wouldn't have come in today
But I really need the cash
I know I can't fool anyone 'cause dark glasses tell no lies
But make-up won't cover up a blackened eye
Oh, oh, oh no

You see, Jimmy works construction now
But yesterday it rained
So he went down to the liquor store
And by noon he felt no pain
I came in an hour late then I let his supper burn
Well he hit the roof hit the wall
And then it was my turn

He said A man's home is his castle
It always has been and so it remains
But he holds the keys in a fist of rage
His home is his castle
And mine is a cage

Someone much have heard the noise and they dialed 911
And the cop that showed up at the door asked,
Is there a problem son?
Jimmy smiled and said No sir, just a little fight that's all
Hey you know how it gets sometimes
When you're layin' down the law
Oh, oh, oh no

So I pulled out my suitcase I started packin' up my clothes
And Jimmy said 'Now Linda, where do you expect to go with those'
I told him 'I have tried, but not an ounce of love survives'
Well he grabbed my wrist and shouted
You're not leavin' here alive

She said I'm savin' up my money and when I get the nerve I'll run
But Jim don't give up easily so I intend to buy a gun
He will never see the way he treats me is a crime
Somebody oughta lock him up but I'm the one
Who's done the time

He said A man's home is his castle
It always has been and so it remains
But he holds the keys in a fist of rage
His home is his castle
And mine is a cage

A little girl, a little small for her age
A little too slow for the field day race
Momma's waiting at the finish line
And wipes the teardrops from her eyes
She says, You did just fine honey, that's okay
Sometimes life's just that way
You're gonna lose the race from time to time
But you're always gonna find

You can't lose me
Bet your life
I am here and I will always be
Just a wish away
Wherever you go
No matter how far
My love is where you are
You won't be lost if you believe
You can't lose me

Momma use to say Girl it won't be long
'Til it's time to go out on your own
Chase your dreams find your place in life
I know you'll do just fine
When that day finally came
There were things she needed to but could not say
So I whispered softly as I wiped
The tears from Momma's eyes

You can't lose me
Bet your life
I am here and I will always be
Just a wish away
Wherever I go
No matter how far
My love is where you are
You won't be lost if you believe
You can't lose me

Cut my hair the way you wanted
Watched you become important
Quit my job to make our new home far away
Now you're Mr. Successful and I'm queen of the treadmill
Trying to stay the size you think that I should stay
I used to dream about what I would be
Last night I dreamed about a washing machine

I keep on giving
But I can't stop living
A woman needs a little something of her own
I like happy endings
I don't like depending
I keep right on pretending
But I can't do that anymore

Now you say I'm being silly
But you don't know me really
You never take the time to ask me how I feel
I keep the checkbook balanced
I decorate your palace
You know I used to think that you were king
Somewhere down deep I know you really love me
But you can't see that what we have's not all I needed

I keep on giving
But I can't stop living
A woman needs a little something of her own
I like happy endings
I don't like depending
I keep right on pretending
But I can't do that anymore

You try to tell me I'm not being fair to you
But life's too short for a selfish attitude

I keep on giving
But I can't stop living
A woman needs a little something of her own
I like happy endings
I don't like depending
I keep right on pretending
But I can't do that anymore

My heart was once just like a home
With many rooms and open doors
And I always let love in
It would change the rooms around and then
Leave them empty

'Til one by one I locked each door
And soon forgot what love was for
But I never gave up hopin'
So I left just one door open
In case you found me

So there's a room in my heart for you
If your trust has been stolen too
If you walk softly on this worn out wooden floor
And leave behind you the hurt you've had before
There's a room in my heart for you

We'll paint the walls from blue to white
And set the mood by candlelight
Together we'll keep out the cold
And I'll still be there when we're old
If you'll let me

So there's a room in my heart for you
If your trust has been stolen too
If you walk softly on this worn out wooden floor
And leave behind you the hurt you've had before
There's a room in my heart for you

Heads I win, tails you lose
I always play by my own rules
And I don't believe in wasting time
So long before we end this night

I will have held you
I will have kissed you
I will have claimed you
You will be mine
I will have loved you
Wrong or right
I will have your heart
You will be mine

An unwritten law says a girl should wait
Should let the man set his own pace
But a woman in love, she's above the law
So long before this night is gone

I will have held you
I will have kissed you
I will have claimed you
You will be mine
I will have loved you
Wrong or right
I will have your heart
You will be mine

You top my list of things to do
And I will get close to you
Before this night is through

I will have held you
I will have kissed you
I will have claimed you
You will be mine
I will have loved you
Wrong or right
I will have your heart
You will be mine

Well in this world of sorrow, trouble and temptation
Jesus always promised trial and tribulation
Then He said, You don't have to fret or fear
Children, be of good cheer and keep walkin' on
Children, keep walkin' on, keep walkin' on
Keep walkin' on, keep walkin' on

In Jesus Christ the truth is found
He'll keep our feet on solid ground
Sometimes we have to just believe
What He put in the Book for us to read
Satan you can't fool this girl
My Lord overcame this world
And I'm walkin' on, yeah I'm walkin' on
Lord, I'm walkin' on, yeah I'm walkin' on

Well Jesus walked on the water, Peter walked on it too
God gave you the power to do what you cannot do
Every road we travel He's traveled down before
There ain't no need to worry where it leads to anymore
I'm walkin' on, I'm walkin' on, I'm walkin' on
I'm walkin' on, I'm walkin' on, I'm walkin' on

Well the road is narrow and it's straight
But it leads right up to the Golden Gate
It may be rough it may be long
But I don't have to walk alone
Step by step and day by day
He takes my hand and I hear Him say
Keep walkin' on, gotta keep walkin' on
Oh, keep walkin' on, oh keep walkin' on

What you gonna do, can't pay the rent
Yeah what you gonna do when the money's spent
What you gonna do when you just can't cope
Hey, what you gonna do when you're outta hope
Oh, keep walkin' on, oh keep walkin' on: