Mama Tried

Album: Mama Tried (1968)
Play Video
  • The first thing I remember knowin'
    Was a lonesome whistle blowin'
    And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
    On a freight train leavin' town
    Not knowin' where I'm bound
    And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
    One and only rebel child
    From a family, meek and mild
    My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
    Despite all my Sunday learnin'
    Towards the bad, I kept on turnin'
    'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore

    And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
    No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
    Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
    That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried

    Dear old Daddy, rest his soul
    Left my Mom a heavy load
    She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
    Workin' hours without rest
    Wanted me to have the best
    She tried to raise me right but I refused

    And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
    No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
    Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
    That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried Writer/s: Merle Haggard
    Publisher: O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Thomas from Somerville, AlMerle Haggard never killed anybody. The fact is, he was drunk and trying to break into a bar at the back door. The bar owner opened the back door and caught him, the bar was open, not closed and called the cops. He DID turn 21 in the county jail for B&E. That is the facts as the facts are. I suggest you commentators watch a few more documentaries and listen to a little less B.S.
  • Henry O. Godwinn from Wheeling, WvActually John it's Honky Tonk bedonkadonk but about the song yeah it's a classic and might be a little inaccuret in that Hag didn't serve life because he was pardoned.
  • John from Mansfield, TxDamn,But I Love ol'Merle!!
    Too bad That all Nashvegas Wants Is Pretty Boys
    who sing"Chicken fried Hallmark cards"!!!
    God,I Wish Hank williams would come down from"Hillbilly Heaven"and"Kabong"Tim McGraw;Toby Keith and Trace Adkins*(*To Name A Few)With his Guitar!!
    "Honky Tonk,A Donk A Donk!!"??As Kristen Wig's SNL Character"Aunt Linda"sez:"PUHLEASE!!".
  • Chet from Buffalo, NyMerle was granted a full pardon by then-Governor Ronald Reagan in 1972. This was one of his biggest successes, topping the Billboard Country chart for 4 weeks.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.