written by holly williams you could ve been bitter you could ve hated him you could ve talked about the whiskey and the women he couldn ve done better but you loved him anyhow then you taught us all the power of forgiveness mama you were smiling when you could ve been crying all night mama you made me believe everything was alright mama you never wore your pain too thick i d like to thank you for this you could ve fought you could ve cut him down to shame you could ve told us that our daddy didn t want us but that wasn t true and you knew it all along it was a struggle between the road and loving you mama you were smiling when you could ve been crying all night mama you made me believe everything was alright mama you never wore your pain too thick i d like to thank you for this you did more good for me than you will ever know i ve seen mothers fill their childrens hearts with hate but you knew better than to drag me down with you you let me love my daddy just the same mama you were smiling when you could ve been crying all night mama you made me believe everything was alright mama you never wore your pain too thick i d like to thank you for this oh i d like to thank you for this