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Mama Tried
Commander Cody Lyrics
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And a young gun's dream of growing up to ride
On a freight train leaving town, not knowing where I'm bound
No one could change my mind but Mama tried
One and only rebel child from the family, meek and mild
My mama seemed to know what lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learning towards the bad, I kept on turning
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing 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
Working 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 doing 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
The lyrics to Commander Cody's song "Mama Tried" speak to the struggle between individualism and familial responsibility. The singer describes his journey from youth dreaming of leaving town to ride the rails, to becoming the "one and only rebel child" in his "meek and mild" family. Despite his mother's attempts to guide him on the right path, he winds up in prison at the age of twenty-one, with no one else to blame but himself.
The lonesome whistle blowing that opens the song symbolizes the call of adventure, of striking out on one's own path, and the singer's reluctance to be tamed by his family or society at large. It's a classic story of youthful rebellion and the ongoing struggle between individual freedom and the constraints of tradition and family.
The singer's turn towards the "bad" despite a childhood of Sunday learning suggests that he is torn between honoring the values his mother instilled within him and pursuing his own desires. Ultimately, he is unable to resist the pull of his own self-destructive tendencies, and ends up in prison. The song serves as a sad reminder of the cost of ignoring the wisdom of those who care for us, and the devastating impact our choices can have on those we love.
Line by Line Meaning
The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowing
My earliest memory was of a train whistle heralding loneliness and departure.
And a young gun's dream of growing up to ride
I longed to grow up and ride a freight train, free from the constraints of home.
On a freight train leaving town, not knowing where I'm bound
I hopped on a train and left town without any idea of where I was headed.
No one could change my mind but Mama tried
Even though nobody else could influence me, my mother attempted to do so.
One and only rebel child from the family, meek and mild
I was the only rebel in my family, usually behaving in a submissive way.
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 learning towards the bad, I kept on turning
Despite being taught moral lessons on Sundays, I continued to act poorly.
'Til mama couldn't hold me anymore
I kept acting out and rebelling until my mother was no longer able to control me.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
I went to prison at 21 and was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading, I denied
My mother tried to teach me to be a better person, but I ignored her advice.
That leaves only me to blame 'cause mama tried
Because I disregarded my mother's wisdom, I hold sole responsibility for my failures and misfortunes.
Dear old daddy, rest his soul, left my Mom a heavy load
My father, who has since passed away, left my mother with a burdensome responsibility.
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
My mother worked tirelessly to take on my father's role and provide for her family.
Working hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
My mother worked long hours to ensure that I had the best opportunities and was well taken care of.
She tried to raise me right but I refused
My mother attempted to raise me with good values and a solid foundation, but I pushed back against her guidance.
That leaves only me to blame 'cause mama tried
Ultimately, because I disregarded my mother's advice, I am the only one culpable for the negative outcomes of my life.
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.