Mama Tried
Bryan and the Haggards Lyrics
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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
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
Bryan and the Haggards's "Mama Tried" is a song that talks about the life journey of a young man who tries to escape the mundane life of his hometown by jumping on a freight train. As he grows older, he realizes that his life choices have landed him in prison. Despite his rebellious nature, his mother never gave up on him and tried to guide him on the right path. The lyrics showcase the deep emotional connection between a mother and her child, even when the child strays from the path of righteousness.
The song's opening lines describe the young man's desire to leave his hometown and venture out into the world, without any idea of the destination. His mother, understanding her son's ambitions, supports him but still tries to guide him towards the right path. Despite her best efforts, the young man ignores her advice and ends up in prison at the age of 21, with no hope of release. The lyrics indicate that the only reason he didn't follow his mother's guidance was that he was a stubborn and rebellious child.
The second verse talks about the young man's father who passed away, leaving his mother to take care of him. She works tirelessly to provide him with the best education and upbringing. However, despite her best efforts, the young man refuses to listen to her advice and ends up making poor choices.
Overall, "Mama Tried" is a poignant reminder of the bond between a mother and her child. The song captures the struggle that many parents face when trying to guide their children towards a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
The first thing I remember knowin'
This song begins by describing the earliest memory of the singer.
Was a lonesome whistle blowin'
They heard a train whistle in the distance.
And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
As a child, the singer dreamed of hopping on a freight train and leaving their small town.
On a freight train leavin' town
The artist wanted to travel away from their hometown via a freight train.
Not knowin' where I'm bound
The train route was unknown to the artist.
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
Even though many people warned the singer against leaving, their mother tried desperately to convince them to stay.
One and only rebel child
The singer is the only rebellious child in their family.
From a family, meek and mild
The rest of the artist's family is very obedient and humble.
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
The artist's mother understood the potential danger and difficulty the artist could face on their journey.
Despite all my Sunday learnin'
Although the artist had been taught to be good and make moral decisions, they still chose a path of rebellion.
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin'
The singer continued to make poor choices despite their upbringing.
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore
The artist's mother tried to stop them, but eventually couldn't hold them back any longer.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
The singer ended up in prison, with a life sentence without the possibility of parole, at the age of twenty-one.
No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Although others tried to help the singer make better choices, only their mother truly tried her best to keep them on the right path.
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
The singer's mother did her best to raise them well, but the singer did not listen to her advice.
That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried
The artist acknowledges that their mother did everything she could to help them make better choices, and that they alone are to blame for their actions and their consequences.
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul
The artist's father has passed away.
Left my Mom a heavy load
Their father's passing left a lot of responsibility on their mother's shoulders.
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
The singer's mother tried her best to take on her husband's role and responsibilities.
Workin' hours without rest
The artist's mother worked tirelessly to provide for their family.
Wanted me to have the best
The artist's mother had the best intentions for their well-being and future.
She tried to raise me right but I refused
The artist acknowledges that their mother did her best to raise them well, but they did not follow her guidance and chose a different path.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Merle Haggard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind