Hard Row To Hoe ( words and music by Gordon Stuart McLeod 1980)

My Mama set me down when I was just fourteen, she said
“Hey, hey Sonny won’t you listen to me,
Don’t you take to playin’ that ol’ evil rock and roll
Cuz it’ll overtake your body like a dread disease,
It’ll rid you of your virtue, rob you of your peace,
And  as sure as I’m standin’ it’ll cause you to lose your soul “ 

Well I hate to tell you Mama but it’s really too late
Your oldest daughter’s radio done sealed my fate
I heard the music playin’ when she tuned it in last night
And as I listened to the Backbeat and felt the music roll 
I could feel that rhythm slippin’ all around my soul
I got the music in me Mama and I tell you that it feels allright

Chorus

She cried “ Oh, Oh Lordy what’s a Mama to do?
I ain’t got no power ‘gainst the rhythm and blues
It’s the primeval force that’s a pullin’ you in Boy,
Think of the danger you’re in!”      
I cried “ O Tutti Frutti’s got a hold on me, Long Tall Sally just won’t let me be
She cried “Oh Boy, You got a hard row to hoe!”