What makes a mother have to cry all day
Since her daughter moved away?
And what makes papa interrupt her prayers
So he can put a curse on the boy he swears?

Common-law love
Common-law love
Napoleonic Code come to push or shove
And baby's shacking up in common-law love

What makes a family cringe and groan
Whenever they hear that pesky phone?
And what turns a neighbor to a so-called friend?
And what turns a whisper to a raging wind?

Common-law love
Common-law love
Napoleonic Code come to push or shove
And baby's shacking up in common-law love

Spicy as a kitchen in a gossiping home Hotter than a party line dial tone
What's all the rumble and the tumble about
The older generation hollers and shouts:

Common-law love
Common-law love
Napoleonic Code come to push or shove
And baby's shacking up in common-law love

Common-law love
Common-law love
Spread across the parish like a fever does
Young people falling into common law love