If You Can Say “I Love You” on a Greeting Card, How Can It Be True?

[Verse 1]
It was a dream my mother had since she was 9 years old
To be on the silver screen like Greta Garbo
Yeah she did whatever I guess she could do
And made it as far as the first floor of Macy’s showroom
That’s where she met my father in 73
They fell in love or something like that
But he was already married
Ooh ooooh with two boys name Todd and Keith

[Verse 2]
I used to set little fires and climb up in really tall trees
When my parents moved to Jersey in the 80’s
Yeah we tried to be good and keep the peace
But that was a little something that just wasn’t all that easy
One night my mother and us try to leave
My father knocked her down and my sister got [?] she called the police
They came but the visit was brief

[Chorus]
If you can swear to be faithful
Then throw away a pair of baby shoes
If you can say I love you on a greeting card
Then tell me how can it be true
Mmm mmm how can it be true

[Verse 3]
My mother take the three of us and move to the west side
Where I learned how to steal money and get high
And I saw my father every other weekend alone
My mother wasn’t happy needless to say my sister didn’t go
Then one time I came downstairs a little late
He yelled at me he told me I was selfish
Then he drove away
Mmm mmm there was nothing I could say

[Chorus]
If you can swear to be honest
Then [?]
If you can say I love you on a greeting card
Then tell me how can it be true
Mmm mmm how can it be true
If you can swear to be honest
Then throw away the bride and groom
If you can write I love you on a greeting card
Then tell me how can it be true
Mmm mmm how can it be true
Mmm mmm how can it be true
Mmm mmm how can it be true