Mama Tried (Live|2004/Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles) - Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard/Toby Keith

The first thing I remember

Knowin was a

Lonesome whistle blowin

And a younguns dream

Of growin up to ride

On a freight train leavin town

Not knowin where I'm bound

No one could change

My mind but mama tried

One and only rebel child

From a family meek and mild

My mama seemed to to

Know what lay in store

Spite all my Sunday learnin

Towards the bad

I kept on turnin

Til mama couldn't

Hold me anymore

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 ole daddy rest his

Soul left my mom a heavy load

She tried so very hard

To feel his shoes

Workin hours without rest

Wanted me to have the best

She tried to raise me

Right but I refused

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

And that leaves only me to blame

'Cause mama tried

And that leaves only me to blame

'Cause mama tried