I thought  60 miles was far enough,
I thought  an hour delay was long enough,
I thought  $20 for gas was high enough
that everyone would learn to stand alone:

that nobody would call me just for a ride,
or to find them a bottle or a place to hide,
or reinforce them when they cried;
I could find a life of my own.

I guess I should have thought it through
and known the thing I needed to do
was start when they were one or two
to teach them we're all alone.

But when they're small and cute and sweet
And the most they ask is a hug & a treat
You can't expect your babies to meet
the big world all alone.

And just because time rolls along
You don't see that they're not being strong
and when you realize something's wrong
it's too late to atone.

So you try to push them out of the nest,
Planning to get a little rest
You go east & send them west--
And--
You don't hear a word for several days
and figure they've all changed their ways
until suddenly a small voice says
"Thank gosh you answered the phone--"

So of course you say "OK"
"Yes, I'll be there right away"
(What the hell else can a mother say?
You can't just whine & moan!)

So the old lady rises, the old car starts
And you can guess the rest of the parts,
"Cuz we grump with our lips but love with our hearts
and it's better than being alone.