Mama Tried

Dear old daddy, rest his soul, left my Mom a heavy load
Working hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
'Til mama couldn't hold me anymore
On a freight train leaving town, not knowing where I'm bound
No one could steer me right but mama tried, mama tried
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading, I denied
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading, I denied
Despite all my Sunday learning towards the bad, I kept on turning
No one could change my mind but Mama tried
My mama seemed to know what lay in store
One and only rebel child from the family, meek and mild
She tried to raise me right but I refused
No one could steer me right but mama tried, mama tried
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes

And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
That leaves only me to blame 'cause mama tried