Teddy, I’ve been bad again
My Mommy told me so.
I’m not quite sure what I did wrong,
But I thought that you might know.

When I woke up this morning
I knew that she was mad
‘Cause she was crying awful hard
And yelling at my Dad.

I tried my best to be real good
And do just what she said,
I cleaned my room all by myself,
I even made my bed.

But I spilled milk on my good shirt,
When she yelled at me to hurry;
And I guess she didn’t hear me,
When I told her I was sorry.

‘Cause she hit me awful hard, you see
And called me funny names
And told me I was really bad,
And that I should be ashamed.

When I said "I love you Mommy",
I guess she didn’t understand;
‘Cause she yelled at me to shut my mouth,
Or I’d get smacked again.

So I came up here to talk to you,
Please tell me what to do
‘Cause I really love my Mommy,
And I know she loves me too.

And I don’t think my Mommy means
To hit me quite so hard;
I guess sometimes grown ups forget,
How really big they are.

So Teddy, I wish you were real
And you weren’t just a little bear;
Then you could help me find a way
To tell Mommies, everywhere.

To please try hard to understand
How sad it makes us feel
‘Cause the outside pain soon goes away
But the inside never heals!

And, if we could make them listen
Maybe then they’d understand
So other children just like me
Won’t have to hurt again.

But for now I guess I’ll hold you tight
And pretend the pains not there
I know you’d never hurt me
So "Goodnight, my Teddy Bear."