When the friends can't be found
And the girl is out of town
I come home to an empty house
The telephone is all I have

When my plans don't work out
Mama says, don't let it get you down
Don't let it get you down

There's a club I can't get in
Every week it's the same damn thing
I get mad I want to cry
it's my skin they don't like

When my plans don't work out
Mama says, don't let it get you down
Don't let it get you down

Now my world don't look good
Not the way I know it should
And my time is running short
I didn't do all I ought

When my plans don't work out
Mama says, don't let it get you down
Don't let it get you down