Introduction
“Mama Tried” is a seminal country song penned and performed by Merle Haggard, released in July 1968 as the lead single and title track of his album “Mama Tried.” The song swiftly ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, marking Haggard’s fifth number-one hit and solidifying his status as a country music luminary.
The narrative of “Mama Tried” delves into the remorse of a son who, despite his mother’s best efforts, ends up incarcerated. While the song mirrors aspects of Haggard’s own life—he was imprisoned in San Quentin in 1957—it is not entirely autobiographical. Notably, Haggard did not serve a life sentence without parole, a fate the song’s protagonist laments.
The track garnered critical acclaim, earning the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 and being selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2016 for its cultural and historical significance.
Following Merle Haggard’s passing in 2016, his sons, Ben and Noel Haggard, have honored their father’s legacy by performing his classic hits, including “Mama Tried.” Ben, who began playing with The Strangers at the age of 15, and Noel have toured together, bringing their father’s timeless music to new audiences.
Their performances serve as a heartfelt tribute, ensuring that Merle Haggard’s influential contributions to country music continue to resonate with fans old and new.
Video
Lyrics
The first thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a young un’s 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
Despite all my Sunday learnin’
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin’
‘Til 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
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 pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame ’cause Mama tried