Michael Holly was staring at a painting
Thinking of his mom, says the artist got it wrong
She's much more conversational and honest
Her colors always compliment
All her friends look about the same
She's never late for dinner by the red blocks
Stacked up like a prison wall, can't keep her mom from crying
Now the lonely painter notices the outlaw
Whiskey in his hand
How he's leaning on the canvas
Lonely painter, won't you leave my ma alone
You've got a mama of your own, take her away
Yellow on the corner shows there's hope for modern man
Blue on the horizon is how he's gonna treat his kid
Sapphire pillows ain't the clouds that bring the rain
The ones they say the dream was made of all just look the same
So lonely painter, won't you leave my dreams alone
I've got problems of my own, take them away
So lonely painter, ain't your job to paint alone
Now my problem are your own, we'll make them pay