Oh, she's tender but she's tough

And still willing to love

If there's a man, man enough to be her man

But right now her hands are full

Fighting back the tears and the wolves

But she keeps smiling just as hard as she can

CHORUS

She's twenty-nine and holding the world on

her shoulders

They're all counting on mama

And she ain't about to let them down

(Oh) There's no time to worry about turning

thirty

When you're twenty-nine and holding

The world on your shoulders

Yes, the one who she once loved

Just didn't have the guts

To be a lover or father or much of a man

Yeah, he just had to have his space

So she put him in his place

Out in the road with his suitcase in his hand

(Repeat Chorus)

BRIDGE

Well, it's the kids and it's the job

It's the kitchen and it's a mop

Hey, it's the life of a woman that's on her

own

And Lord, I just gotta say

That we all ought to be ashamed

If our biggest trouble is just turning old and

gray

(Repeat Chorus)

She's twenty-nine and holding the world on

her shoulders