The Get Up and Go

THE GET UP AND GO
© 2017 by Heather Pierson

My father left us on a Monday
On Tuesday the telephone rang
On Wednesday night he came back
And all day Thursday how my mother sang

But Friday night was coming
And Daddy was the prowling kind
The whole damn weekend came and went
But Daddy never paid us no mind

He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of his time and money so foolishly spent
Always hoping that the horses and the cards would make the rent
He had the get up and go so he got up and went

Mama cried all day that Monday
And on Tuesday she answered the phone
She let that mean old daddy come back
‘Cause she didn’t like sleeping alone

But the bed was cold by Friday
And all the bills were comin’ up due
I watched her hang her head and cry
As if there weren’t a damned thing she could do

He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of Mama’s time and lovin’ so foolishly spent
Always hoping that Daddy would come home from wherever he went
He had the get up and go so he got up and went

Line up the ponies at the starting gate and fire that starting gun

Daddy came home on a Sunday
And he took us to the church in town
He even put on his suit and tie
And he promised that he’d stick around

But no fear of god almighty
Or any warning ‘bout a lake of fire
Was enough to keep Daddy at home
‘Cause he was a liar

He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of his time and money so foolishly spent
Always hoping that the horses and the cards would make the rent
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
He had the get up and go