The first thing I remember knowing Was a lonesome whistle blowing And a young'un's dream of growing up to ride On a freight train leaving town Not knowing 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 Despite all my Sunday learning Towards the bad I kept on turning Till Mama couldn't hold me anymore 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
[00:12.07]The first thing I remember knowing [00:14.56]Was a lonesome whistle blowing [00:17.06]And a young'un's dream of growing up to ride [00:21.52]On a freight train leaving town [00:24.64]Not knowing where I'm bound [00:26.75]And no one could change my mind but Mama tried [00:31.39]One and only rebel child [00:34.18]From a family meek and mild [00:36.60]My mama seemed to know what lay in store [00:41.32]Despite all my Sunday learning [00:43.92]Towards the bad I kept on turning [00:46.37]Till Mama couldn't hold me anymore [00:51.09]I turned twenty-one in prison [00:53.66]Doing life without parole [00:56.17]No one could steer me right [00:58.42]But Mama tried, Mama tried [01:00.91]Mama tried to raise me better [01:03.83]But her pleading I denied [01:05.92]That leaves only me to blame [01:08.40]'Cause Mama tried [01:09.90] [01:20.20]Dear old Daddy, rest his soul [01:22.89]Left my mom a heavy load [01:25.78]She tried so very hard to fill his shoes [01:29.96]Working hours without rest [01:32.65]Wanted me to have the best [01:35.34]She tried to raise me right but I refused [01:40.21]And I turned twenty-one in prison [01:42.68]Doing life without parole [01:44.93]No one could steer me right [01:47.16]But Mama tried, Mama tried [01:49.86]Mama tried to raise me better [01:52.43]But her pleading I denied [01:54.66]That leaves only me to blame [01:56.98]'Cause Mama tried [01:58.67]
