When I was five I put on mama's high heel shoes And paint my face Dance across the living room At Ruby's place Where the music was always playing Girls were alive While the men were saying
[Chorus:] Apples don't fall far from the tree Hey honey, come sit on my knee Apples don't fall far from the tree And I remember mama's tears When they said in a few years I'd be something to see
At seventeen I had me a diamond And a string of pearls Men said they preferred me To the other girls They took me to the best of places But I could read it on their faces
[Chorus]
Then when mama died I made up my mind To get on a gray hound Get out of this town And leave it all behind But life goes on A child of three Smiles up at me while she plays A man I loved Has never heard of Ruby's place When he holds her with affection And he uses that old expression