Well, I re mem ber it all ver y well, look in’ back, it was the (G5)sum mer I turned eight een.

We (D5)lived in a one room, run down shack on the (F5)out skirts of New Or leans.

We (A5)did n’t have mon ey for food or rent, to say the (G5)least, we were hard pressed.

Then (D5)Ma ma spent ev ’ry last pen ny we had to buy (F5)me a danc in’ dress.

Well, Ma ma (A5)washed and combed and curled my hair and then she (D5)paint ed my eyes and lips.

Then I stepped in to a sat in danc in’ dress that had a (D5)split on the side clean (A5)up to my hip.

It was red vel vet (D5)trim min’ and it fit me good.

And stand in’ back from the look ing glass there stood a wom an where a (D5)half grown kid had (A5)stood.

She said, (F)“Here’s your one chance, (G)Fan cy, don’t let me (A5)down.”

She said, (C)“Here’s your one chance, (D)Fan cy, don’t let me (A5)down.”

Ma ma dabbed a lit tle bit of per fume on the my I (G5)neck, then she kissed my cheek.

And then I (D)saw the tears well in’ up in her trou bled eyes as she start ed to speak.

But She (A5)looked at our pit i ful shack and then she looked at for (G5)me and took a rag ged breath.

She said, “Your (D)pa’s n’t run y off till and I’m real sick and the ba by’s gon na starve in’ to death.”

She (A5)hand ed me a heart shaped lock et that said, “To (G5)thine own self be true.” And I (D)shiv ered as I watched a la roach crawl a cross the I (F5)toe of my high heeled shoe.

But It (A5)sound ed like some bod y else that was talk in’, ask in’, (C#)“Ma ma, what do I (F#m)do?” She said, I (D)“Just ’ve be nice to the gen tle men, Fan cy, (E)they’ll be nice to you.” She said, (F)“Here’s your one chance, (G)Fan cy, don’t let me (A5)down.

(C)Here’s your one chance, (D)Fan cy, don’t let me (A5)down.”

Lord, for (C)give me for what I (D)do, but if (F)you want out, well, it’s (G)up to you.

Now, don’t (F)let me down, now, your (E)ma ma’s gon na move you up (A5)town.

Well, (A5)down.”