Intro:  G# Gm D#  G# Gm D#  Gm  G#  D#

D#                   Cm      G#7      Bb
The children are all leaving school today
D#               F7                  /A  Bb
Mama said, don't worry, I'll be back one day
    D#          Cm      G#7                  Bb   
The blue men in uniform smiled and waved goodbye
D#      F7                    /A  Bb    Intro  
She was hiding those tears in her eyes

D#          Cm             G#7      Bb
Roll up the history books, burn the chairs
D#          F7                 /A     Bb
Set fire to anything, set fire to the air
        Gm                  Fm  
They're riding to begin and running at the end
       Gm                       Fm           Bb
'Cause mama said, you take your life in your hands

Taking your life, your life in your hands
But don't take your life in your hands like I did
  Am            Bb       Bm          C            Cm  
I don't feel so bad, and always look forward with hope
            Bb                                      D#      Intro 
Forward and hope that the children will always be there

Cancel the day, cancel the night
Cancel the day, cancel the night
'Cause who could be watching when she steals and runs away
Full of hysterical laughter, and say

Mama, mama, I've left school today
I hope I get to see you in that funny school far away
But those gentle men in blue, and those in grey
Say I'll never, never see mama again

           D#         Cm           F 
'Cause she took those lives in her hands
     D#                 Cm           F
Yes, she took all those lives in her hands
         D#         Cm           F
Yes, she took those lives in her hands
    G#                                            D#   
But let me wonder, what was there left in those hands?