You could've been bitter, you could've hated him   You could've talked about the whiskey and the women   He could've done better but you loved him anyhow   Then you taught us all the power of forgiveness      Mama, you were smiling when you could've been crying all night   Oh mama, you made me believe everything was alright   Mama, you never wore your pain too thick   I'd like to thank you for this      You could've fought, you could've cut him down to shame   You could've told us that our daddy didn't want us   That wasn't true if you knew it all along   It was a struggle between the road and loving you      Mama, you were smiling when you could've been crying all night   Oh mama, you made me believe everything was alright   Oh mama, you never wore your pain too thick   I'd like to thank you for this      You did more good for me than you will ever know   I've seen mothers fill their children's hearts with hate   But you knew better than to drag me down with you   You let me love my daddy just the same      Oh mama, you were smiling when you could've been crying all night   Oh mama, you made me believe everything was alright   Oh mama, you never wore your pain too thick   I'd like to thank you for this   Oh, I'd like to thank you for this