Mama locked the door last night
for the first time in all of her years
I said mama you gotta be kidding me,
she said things ain't like they used to be round here
You just wouldn't believe it, kids growing up without Jesus,
good thing your daddy ain't here to see this now
They stay higher than the water tower in this 35 MPH Town
She said it ain't the drugs, it ain't the booze,
I've had a backroad buzz or two, myself
It seems like heaven is slipping further away,
the devil ain't got far to go when they raise hell
We used to burn a hole through midnight,
smoking a stolen Marlboro Light and
on a good night might kill a 5th of Crown
But now there's a lower higher power in this 35 MPH town
Oh we can't blame the babies for growing up lazy
And crazy it ain't them that let them down
If they ain't stealing, they're suing,
why work when we'll give it to 'em
It's right there in the bible that we don't put out
Spare the rod and you'll sour a 35 MPH town
The "yes mam's gone and the "please's too,
It's out the door with the "thank you" in the evening
You don't see a front yard football game
The neighbor kids have done away with the shirts and skins
No one hits the front porch lights
to get the kids to come inside
Cause the streets ain't safe for a bike to ride down
Since they planted a prowler in this 35 MPH town
No they're going nowhere fast tonight
no matter how fast they drive this 35 Hour Town
for the first time in all of her years
I said mama you gotta be kidding me,
she said things ain't like they used to be round here
You just wouldn't believe it, kids growing up without Jesus,
good thing your daddy ain't here to see this now
They stay higher than the water tower in this 35 MPH Town
She said it ain't the drugs, it ain't the booze,
I've had a backroad buzz or two, myself
It seems like heaven is slipping further away,
the devil ain't got far to go when they raise hell
We used to burn a hole through midnight,
smoking a stolen Marlboro Light and
on a good night might kill a 5th of Crown
But now there's a lower higher power in this 35 MPH town
Oh we can't blame the babies for growing up lazy
And crazy it ain't them that let them down
If they ain't stealing, they're suing,
why work when we'll give it to 'em
It's right there in the bible that we don't put out
Spare the rod and you'll sour a 35 MPH town
The "yes mam's gone and the "please's too,
It's out the door with the "thank you" in the evening
You don't see a front yard football game
The neighbor kids have done away with the shirts and skins
No one hits the front porch lights
to get the kids to come inside
Cause the streets ain't safe for a bike to ride down
Since they planted a prowler in this 35 MPH town
No they're going nowhere fast tonight
no matter how fast they drive this 35 Hour Town