Evening Shade Lyrics - Singles - Dolly Parton

My chain of thought was broken by a sudden burst of laughter 

Something badly needed to lighten up the chores 

Seemed old Mrs. Bailey had accidentally fell 

In the water being used to scrub the floors 

Now Mrs. Bailey was the meanest matron at the home 

She believed in lots of work with little play 

And we laughed til we bent double 

Though we knew we'd get in trouble 

But trouble's all we had at evening shade 

Now evening shade was where they claim to teach you understanding 

Teach you love and keep you off the streets 

And all the kids that live there are said to be a problem 

Juvenile delinquents so to speak 

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But understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger 

An iron hand has no gentle touch and love ain't learned from hate 

The reason we were there is 'cause we had no one who cared 

But they cared even less at evening shade 

Little Susan Bradley, one night had wet her bed 

Mrs. Bailey took the razor strap and beat her half to death 

And I knew that something must be done to put an end to this 

And so I started talking plans with the older kids 

Plans were that Joe Johnson would steal the kerosene 

And I would get some matches when nobody seen 

Beckie Adams would make sure the kids were all outside 

Billy Watson would look out for the evil eye 

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Now Mrs. Bailey took a nap at three o'clock each day 

We knew that she'd be a'sleeping as the plans got underway 

Now that it's all over and the sun is going down 

There's no evening shade because we burned it to the ground 

Evening shade was burning just like the hell it was