C         Fm               Bb      Fm
I love my boys more than I love my girl
           Eb           C#         C
Try not to show it, she knows like I knew
          Fm                              F#
I have my father's legs, long kissed with summer
            Ebm                  C#     C
Old fear of Father keeps me in Mother's mirror
           Fm                 Bb       Fm
Sing to my boys, back to your own bed, girl
               Eb                   C#               C
Cold fills the bottle, he'll get the swaddling and my milk
          Fm                          F#
I have my mother's gaze, pastures and towers
             Ebm                   C#     C
Soft drawing him near to her down cast severe


[Chorus 1]
    Fm
Oh, Valerie, Valerie
Ab
Know the hand that feeds you
              F#
The hand that keeps you
              Fm         
The hand that owns the keys
      C#
Keeps you pretty
      Ab
Don't look to me to hold you
            F#
I shape and mould you
           Fm
So you can get the ring
                   Eb  C# C
While you're still pretty


[Verse 2]
C          Fm              Bb      Fm
Rock a bye boys, run along daddy's girl
                Eb            C#                C
You're blushing youthful dewy bloom cut from my tree
                  Fm
You'll learn your mother's game
            F#               Ebm
Seal your reflection for his affection
            C#         C
Now against me, you'll play
         Fm             Bb      Fm
So on it goes, never to trust a girl
           Eb             C#            C
All system rivals to be expected in his world


[Chorus 2]
Fm
Valerie
Ab
Know the hand that feeds you
              F#
The hand that keeps you
            Fm
Can put you on the street
          Eb       C#
At least you're pretty
      Ab
Don't look to me for sweetness
              F#          C       Fm
This borrowed dress holds nothing sweet