Lyrics
Mary-Lou (Whatever Happened To You)
You never read a book, you never went to school
You hardly even learned to write your name
No matter what it took, you didn’t care about the rules
You had your own way just the same
You wayward child, growing up
In a back woods town
With nothing else to do you made your own fun
Just laying around
Well trouble overtook you, fun turned into pain
But you didn’t know where to point the blame
Now no one overlooked you and though the baby never came
Still you were walking streets of shame
And the rumours started flying, the truth became the lies
The things people say
So you packed a change of clothes and all your memories
And you walked away
You only ever had your looks to tide you over
And the dirty old man making sure you never got sober
Blowing smoke at the two-bit juke joint band
As the man leans closer, puts another whisky in your hand
So you walked down another Main Street in another dusty town
You were only there ‘cause you were passing through
And the town was only there because many years ago
This was where the railroad came to
And someone caught your eye, something made you stay
And it started all over again
Oh he picked you up so high but then he threw you away
As he climbed on the nearest train
You only ever had your looks to tide you over
And the dirty old man making sure you never got sober
Blowing smoke at the two-bit juke joint band
As the man leans closer, puts another whisky in your hand
Oh Mary-Lou, oh Mary-Lou
Oh Mary-Lou, whatever happened to you?
Well now you’re not alone but still you’re on your own
And the baby’s getting taller
Your silver’s turned to stone, and your cigarette’s all gone
And your whisky bottle’s getting smaller
And there’s not much to be made entertaining casual callers
But you welcome them inside
And you’re picking up the trade from the usual kerb-side crawlers
Looking for another cheap ride
You only ever had your looks to tide you over
And the dirty old man making sure you never got sober
Blowing smoke at the two-bit juke joint band
As the man leans closer, puts another whisky in your hand
Oh Mary-Lou, oh Mary-Lou
Oh Mary-Lou, whatever happened to you?
© Copyright 2025 Jonathan Hirsch. All rights reserved.
