First thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a youngun’s dream of growin’ up to ride
On a freight train leavin’ town,
Not knowin’ where I’s bound.
No one could change my mind but mama tried.
One and only rebel child
In a fam’ly meek and mild,
Mama seemed to know what lay in store.
In spite of all my sunday learnin’,
For the bad I kept on turnin’;
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 pleadin’ 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 pleadin’ I denied,
That leaves only me to blame ’cause mama tried.
That leaves only me to blame ’cause mama tried.