When no friends can't be found   And my girl is out of town   I come home to empty house   The telephone is all I have      When my plans don't work out   Mama says, don't let it get you down   Don't let it get you down      There's a club I can't get in   Every week it's the same damn thing   I get mad, I want to cry   It's my skin they don't like      When my plans don't work out   Mama says, don't let it get you down   Don't let it get you down      Now my world don't look good   Not the way I know it should   And my time is running short   I didn't do all I ought      When my plans don't work out   Mama says, don't let it get you down   Don't let it get you down      When my plans don't work out   Mama says, don't let it get you down   Don't let it get you down