[Verse 1]
Ever since I was a little boy
If I want a piece of candy or a toy
I’d ask my dad, but sometimes he don’t hear

Or he might say "go ask your mom"
But if you do that, well you gotta stay calm
Cuz I’m pretty sure the buck could stop right there

You could say, "dad said yes," and do a little dance
But there such a thing as a thing called chance
There’s a pretty good chance that she’ll go check and see

Avoiding all that complication
I just skip their generation
And ask grandma for anything I need

[Chorus]
But if grandma says "no" (no, no)
If grandma says "no" (no, no)
Well if grandma says "no" (no, no)
I know…
That she really means "maybe"

[Verse 2]
If I ask my mom or ask my dad
I gotta do this or I gotta do that
Well, grandmas, they don’t have that many needs
Every once in a while, give a little hug
And don’t tell her 'bout them sugar bugs
The cavities that all her candy feeds

[Chorus]
But if grandma says "no" (no, no)
If grandma says "no" (no, no)
Well if grandma says "no" (no, no)
I know…
That she really means "maybe"

[Bridge]
When momma gets tired of all of my debating (my debating)
She’ll pack my clothes and put me in the car (in the car)
She don’t know I’ll soon be celebrating (celebrating)
With both hands inside grandma’s cookie ja-a-ar

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Let’s recap:
When mama says "no" and daddy says "no"
And your aunts and your uncles and your teacher says "no"
Just give a little tug on grandma’s dress

She might say, "I told you once. I told you twice
No way. No how. Uh-uh. No dice"
But all those words eventually mean "yes"
[Chorus]
'Cause when grandma says "no" (no, no)
When grandma says "no" (no, no)
When grandma says "no" (no, no)
I know…
That she really means "maybe"

"No" means "maybe" (maybe, maybe)
She really means "maybe" (maybe, maybe)