Nanci Griffith - Mary & Omie lyrics

My daddy was a longshoreman in New Orleans
My mamma kept score just
Watchin' the Mardi Gras oh me
I sat on the front porch
Watchin' the rails roll out
I was waitin' for my Omie to
Take me outta this south
It was me and my sisters like
To wore that front porch out

And there can't be more to this
Livin' than loving my Omie
We're both sittin' back here
Watchin' our children grow
If there's a better ace in the deck
Well, baby, come on and show me
If you ain't got a hand then
Get on your wheel and roll
'cuz there could never be a better
Hand than these hearts I hold

Me and my Omie we settled
Down here in Houston
Oh, and one by one, we moved my sisters west
We bought a house in the suburbs
And we've got four fine children
We are black middle class because
Omie wouldn't settle for less
We are black middle class because
Omie wouldn't settle for less

And there can't be more to this
Livin' than loving my Omie
We're both sittin' back here
Watchin' our children grow
If there's a better ace in the deck
Well, baby, come on and show me
If you ain't got a hand then
Get on your wheel and roll
'cuz there could never be a better
Hand than these hearts I hold

My children are the first thing in my mornin'
My Omie is the last thing in my night
Oh, in between I dream about
That porch back home
And I bless my daddy for
The love within that house
But, i thank my Omie for
Takin' me outta the south

Look at these hearts I hold oh
Look at these hearts I hold
Look at these hearts I hold there
Ain't no place like home
Look at these hearts we hold look
At those hearts you hold
Hey! my Omie's got a heart of gold
Look at these hearts we hold
Take a look at those hearts you hold!"