If you ain't got two kids by twenty-one
You're probably gonna die alone
Least that's what tradition told you
And it don't matter if you don't believe
Come Sunday morning, you best be
There in the front row like you're supposed to
Same hurt in every heart
Same trailer, different park
Mama's hooked on Mary Kay
Brother's hooked on Mary Jane
Daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down
Mary, Mary quite contrary
We get bored, so, we get married
Just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry-go-round
And around and around we go
Where it stops nobody knows
And it ain't slowing down
This merry-go-round
We think the first time's good enough
So, we hold on to high school love
Saying we won't end up like our parents
Tiny little boxes in a row
Ain't what you want, it's what you know
Just happy in the shoes you're wearing
Same checks we're always cashing
To buy a little more distraction
Cause mama's hooked on Mary Kay
Brother's hooked on Mary Jane
Daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
We get bored, so, we get married
Just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry-go-round
And around and around we go
Where it stops nobody knows
And it ain't slowing down
This merry-go-round
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
We're so bored until we're buried
Just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry-go-round
Merry-go-round
Jack and Jill went up the hill
Jack burned out on booze and pills
And Mary had a little lamb
Mary just don't give a damn no more