Mama Tried
Merle Haggard Lyrics

The first thing I remember knowin'
The earliest memory I have is of knowing something.

Was a lonesome whistle blowin'
I recall hearing a sad, solitary train whistle.

And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
As a child, I dreamed of growing up and riding a freight train.

On a freight train leavin' town
I wanted to leave town on a freight train, uncertain where I'd go.

Not knowin' where I'm bound
I didn't know where the train would take me, but it didn't matter.

And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
Despite my determination, my mother tried to convince me otherwise.

One and only rebel child
I was the only child in the family that acted out and defied authority.

From a family, meek and mild
My family was otherwise obedient and reserved.

My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
My mother had a sense of what the future held for me.

Despite all my Sunday learnin'
In spite of my religious upbringing and education, I still made poor choices.

Towards the bad, I kept on turnin'
I was drawn to trouble and continued down a negative path.

'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore
My mother eventually couldn't control me or my actions.

And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
I ended up in prison for life without the possibility of parole at the age of 21.

No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Despite my poor decisions, my mother tried to guide me onto a better path.

Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
My mother tried to bring me up in a positive way, but I didn't listen to her begging.

That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried
Despite my mother's efforts to help me, I am responsible for my own choices and consequences.

Dear old Daddy, rest his soul
My father has passed away and is now at peace.

Left my Mom a heavy load
My father left my mother with a lot of responsibility to manage on her own.

She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
My mother worked tirelessly to take over my father's role in the family.

Workin' hours without rest
My mother worked non-stop, without any breaks or rest periods.

Wanted me to have the best
Despite her struggles, my mother strived to give me the best life possible.

She tried to raise me right but I refused
Despite her best intentions, I rejected my mother's guidance and went down a negative path.