Bruce Robison: First thing about Mary

The first thing about Mary, I'll tell you cause you asked Is she don't like when people are always livin' in the past You know, talkin' 'bout the good old days and how things might have been If some folks had been different how things might be better now for them That's what you learn when you've known Mary long as I have You see, when I met Mary Campbell, that's what her name was then It was a party in the woods with a fire in a garbage can Everyone stood and watched the embers risin' in the sky I was askin' about the little girl with the big brown eyes But no one knew the first thing about Mary But I ain't worried about it no I know it'll all be She's gonna come on back to me someday 'Cause he don't know the first thing about Mary She could never love a man that way You see, the first thing about Mary is that she don't ever lie And she can tell if you are just by looking in your eyes She'll say that she forgives you and you'll try to make amends But once her trust is gone she can't really give it back again That's what you learn when you've known Mary long as I have But I ain't worried about it no I know it'll all be She's gonna come on back to me someday 'Cause he don't know the first thing about Mary She could never love a man that way Pray that they don't dust your life for the little fingerprints I can't recall my life before her and there ain't been nothin since And they can build great buildings full of stuff I'll never learn But I understand the reason for the fire and how it burns You see, one thing about Mary not alot of people know Is she can't stay in small towns if she thinks she needs to grow And you may think its just a phase and she'll soon give in And she won't ever leave you, boy, you better think again 'Cause you can't throw a rope around my Mary But I ain't worried about it no I know it'll all be She's gonna come on back to me someday 'Cause he don't know the first thing about Mary She could never love a man that way