A poignant Christmas song sung by the daughter of a single mom.

It's Christmas and even though she's sick and exhausted, a mother has dressed up as Santa for her two children. The older child, a young girl is the one singing. She can see through the costume - she knows her mom isn't Santa.

Lynne Stewart, Tracy's co-writer, used to recite this as a poem using a Dolly Parton type voice. The audience always laughed but were then moved to tears.

MAMA, I KNOW YOU AINT SANTA

MAMA, I KNOW YOU AINT SANTA
SANTA DONT HAVE A FIGURE LIKE YOU
AND HIS EYES ARENT RED FROM CRYIN?
AND HE DONT STAND JUST UNDER FIVE-TWO.

MAMA, YOUR PILLOW IS SLIPPIN?
AND YOUR PRETTY BLOND HAIR IS SHOWING THROUGH
AND AINT THAT THE NECKLACE I MADE YOU
AND I BET SANTA DONT HAVE THE FLU.

THERES A CLEAR CHRISTMAS SKY IN ATLANTA
MILLIONS OF STARS BRIGHT AS CAN BE
MAMA, I KNOW YOU AINT SANTA
IVE SEEN HIM UP CLOSE, IVE SAT ON HIS KNEE.

BUT BILLY DONT KNOW YOU AINT SANTA
HOW COULD HE, HES ONLY TWO
BILLY DONT REMEMBER DADDY
BUT, MAMA, YOU AND I DO.

THANKS FOR THE SKIRT YOU MADE OVER
AND THANKS FOR DYING IT RED
AND BILLY SURE LOVES THAT PUPPY
WE'LL NEVER GET HIM TO BED.

THERES A CLEAR CHRISTMAS SKY IN ATLANTA
MILLIONS OF STARS TWINKLING BRIGHT
MAMA, I KNOW YOU AINT SANTA
BUT I PROMISE ILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS NIGHT.

NOW, LET ME PLAY SANTA FOR BILLY
YOU GO UPSTAIRS AND TAKE A REST
CAUSE YOU MAKE ONE LOUSY SANTA
BUT AS A MAMA FOR BILLY AND ME, YOU ARE THE BEST.

(c2004 Lynne Stewart & Tracy Newman)