MAMA TRIED
(Merle Haggard)

Merle Haggard - 1968
Conway Twitty - 1968
The Everly Brothers - 1968
Freddie Hart - 1968
Ray Pillow - 1969
Joan Baez - 1970
David Blue - 1970
Ace Cannon - 1970
Albert Lee - 1970
The Buckaroos - 1971
Grateful Dead - 1971
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen - 1973
Hank Snow - 1974
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister - 1986
Terry Eldredge - 1992
Tony Carey - 1993
John Anderson - 1994
Old 97's - 1994
Reno Brothers - 1994
Jack Ingram - 1995
Roger Martin - 1995
Randy Travis - 1998
Langhorne Slim - 2001
Toby Keith - 2004
Joe Bonson & Coffee Run - 2005
The Millionaires - 2007
The Seldom Scene - 2007

Also recorded by:
Reba McEntire; Percy Sledge; Willie Nelson; Bob Luman;
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; Forced Reality; Boxcar Willie;
David Allan Coe; Vhris Fyfe; Dale Watson; Ron Shepard;
Hess Family Bluegrass Band; Forced Reality; Jim Croce;
Lee Sims & the Platte River Band .......and others.



First thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin'
And a young'uns 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
Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin'
Till 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

(Instrumental Break)

Dear old Daddy rest his soul left my Ma 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

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