Mama Tried

First thing I remember knowin' Was a lonesome whistle blowin' And a young one's dream of growin' up to ride On a freight train leavin' town Not knowin' where I'm bound No one could steer me right But Mama tried One and only rebel child From a family meek and mild My Mama seemed to know what lay in store In spite of all my Sunday learnin' Toward the bad I kept on turnin' Till 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 pleading, I denied And that leaves only me to blame 'Cause Mama tried {And then there was another man from Texas My Mama and Daddy used to drive for Miles and miles just to listen to him sing I remember Mama used to tell me She'd say, "Reba's got the best voice I have ever heard" And then later on when I got to go And listen to him saying, "I'd sit there all night long And wait for Ray Price to saying the blue"}