She never knew about the tooth fairy
Or being tucked into bed by her daddy
She never knew about staying up all night alone
Talking to a girlfriend she never knew about
First kisses or throwing pennies into wells
and making wishes She never knew,
but she never knew,
she never
knew
Do you blame the mother that chose neglect?
Do you blame the teacher that decided to reject her?
Do you blame the angel that failed to protect Arlene?
Oh Arlene,
oh Arlene
She never knew about Sunday mornings
Waking up late in the arms of her husband
She never knew what it's like to dry a tear from the sun
She never knew,
she never knew,
what it's like to help her daughter get dressed
on the day of her wedding She never
knew what it's like to hold a newborn
grandchild
Do you blame the mother that chose neglect?
Do you blame the teacher that decided to reject her?
Do you blame the angel that failed to protect Arlene?
She was sent to live in the middle of nowhere
With all the misfits for they don't fit in
And then who pays the time for the crime against the innocent child?
I'm afraid it's Arlene,
oh Arlene
Send
them away, tell them everything's okay
What's been taken away can never be replaced
She was a little girl with dreams and smiles
Walked with a limp when she was only five
Her mother couldn't handle the shame She packed Arlene,
sent her away
I met Arlene
at her group home She's 78 now and she lives all alone
She knits clothes for her dolls who are her family
Too late to blame the mother that chose neglect Too
late to blame the teacher that decided to reject her
Too late to blame the angel that failed to protect Arlene
She was sent to live in the middle of nowhere
With all the misfits for they don't fit in
And then who pays the time for the crime against the innocent child?
I'm afraid it's Arlene,
oh Arlene Oh Arlene