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Mama Tried

by Grateful Dead

on By The Time We Got To Woodstock (1969), 30 Trips Around the Sun (1973), Grateful Dead Live (1971)

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