A Refuge In Distress

A fellow’s father he looks wise Of office work and such, But when it comes to things like what A boy wants, he ain’t much. For when it comes to cuts or warts Or stone bruise on your toes, A fellow’s father don’t know, but A fellow’s mother knows.

A fellow’s father he looks wise And says: “A-hem! A-hem!” But when it comes to cakes and pies, What does he know of them? He knows the price of wheat and rye And corn and oats, it’s true, But if you get the leg ache, why, He don’t know what to do.

And if you burned your back the time That you went in to swim, And want some stuff to heal it, why, You never go to him, Because he doesn’t know a thing About such things as those, But you just bet, and don’t forget, A fellow’s mother knows.

And if your nose is sunburned, till It’s all peeled off, and you Go to him for some healin’ stuff, He don’t know what to do. He’s just as helpless as can be, But when a fellow goes And asks his mother, why, you see, A fellow’s mother knows.

A fellow’s father knows a lot, But it ain’t any use, So if a fellow’s really got The leg ache or a bruise, Or if there’s anything he wants He gets right up and goes And asks his mother, for, you see, A fellow’s mother knows.