Counting pennies, to buy a loaf of bread br More often than not, hungry going to bed br Us carrying mothers sewing machine, every thirty days br Three blocks to the pawn shop, till the welfare check pays br Got the welfare check, would get the sewing machine out br We'd pawn it again next month, without a doubt br Living on commodities, free peanut butter and cheese br Going to school without a coat we'd always freeze br We never had many nice clothes to wear br Mother would mend them when they began to tear br Having meat for dinner was a real rare thing br Breakfast and supper, beans and rice we were eating br We wore our shoes until they fell apart br Mother could only buy one of us a pair, at the mart br Quiet often we were left all by ourselves br While mother worked or went out for cocktails br The days weren't so bad alone, we were in school br But young and left alone at night was really cruel br Feeling so alone, just us three br Please stay home tonight mama, we'd plea br Times were hard when I was a child br This poem I've written, is putting it mildbr br Donna Nimmobr br