I was raised in the middle of the cotton belt, babe, but I ain't gonna stay I'll lose my shape fast draggin' cotton sacks and eatin' butter beans ever day Yeah, I'm a sweet young thing I just turned eighteen and I'm unhookin' the latch 'Cause I've got too much class for this cotton patch I've been readin' magazines on a once-a-week trip to town on Saturday And I've seen all pretty clothes and had some rich men and I know that's for me Papa's been tryin' to pair me up with Willie Bond whose daddy owns the cotton gin Ha, I done checked Willie out two years ago and Willie knows I'm too much for him It's Monday mornin' four o'clock got my sack packed and I'm out here where the freeway runs Here comes a truck I'm in luck he's goin' straight through on a Dallas run Yeah I am headin' for big D and I know that's place for me to really make a catch Well, finally I'm a gettin' my class out of this cotton patch I arrived in style aboard that big semi and I felt mighty high Waltzin' into the best department store for employment to suit my style And I was doin' pretty good till some wisecracker came on the scene He called me a ripe tomato, but he said I sure look green I tried every door to every store in town, but my luck had run down It seemed nobody round Dallas could recognize the class I'd brought to town And after all day of looking, would you believe the only job I could land Was in a dog food factory stickin' labels on dog food cans Dear mama how are you, pop and the kids? Hope you're doin' okay Me, I never did find a better job, and all the rich men got away Mama, I've been thinkin' pretty soon you know, I'll be nineteen And I sure learned a lot about class fast, mama, know what I mean? Mama, if you'd ask papa if he could spare a few dollars I'd catch the next Greyhound comin' home And tell him if Willie Bond ain't committed yet, I'd be willin' to give him another try After all it's been over two years; just tell papa to send the money