The first thing about Mary, I'll tell you 'cause you asked She don't like when folks are always livin' in the past You know, talkin' 'bout the good old days and how things might've been If some folks had been different it might be better now for them That's what you learn when you've known Mary long as I have You see, when I met Mary Campbell, that's what her name was then It was a party in the woods with the fire in a garbage can And everyone stood and watched the embers risin' in the sky I was askin' 'bout the little girl with the big brown eyes But no one knew the first thing about Mary CHORUS: But I ain't worried about it none, I know it'll all be okay She's gonna come on back to me someday 'Cause he don't know the first thing about Mary She could never love a man that way You see, one thing about Mary is that she don't ever lie But she can tell if you are just by lookin' in your eyes And she'll say that she forgives you and you'll try to make amends But once her trust is gone she can't really give it back again That's what you learn when you've known Mary long as I have CHORUS BRIDGE: Pray that they don't dust your life for the little fingerprints I can't recall my life before her and there ain't been nothin' since And they can raise great buildings full of stuff I'll never learn But I understand the reason for the fire and how it burns You see, one thing about Mary not a lot of people know Is she can't stay in small towns if she thinks she needs to grow And you may think it's just a phase and she'll soon give in And she won't ever leave you boy, you better think again 'Cause you can't throw a rope around my Mary CHORUS No he don't know the first thing about Mary She could never love a man that way