The first I remember knowin'   Was that lonesome whistle blowin'   And a youngin's dream   Of growin' up to ride      On a freight train leavin' town   Not knowin' where I was bound   No one could steer me right   But mama tried      Was the only rebel child   From a family 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'   And mama couldn't hold me anymore      And I turned 21 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 no one but 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   Oh, she tried to raise me right   But I refused      And I turned 21 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 no one but me to blame   'Cause mama tried      And I turned 21 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 no one but me to blame   'Cause mama tried   That leaves no one but me to blame   'Cause mama tried