Merle Haggard - Mama Tried (2001) by Merle Haggard (보컬) on maniadb.com

The first thing I remember knowing,
Was a lonesome whistle blowing,
And a young un's dream of growing up to ride;
On a freight train leaving town,
Not knowing where I'm bound,
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 learning,
Towards the bad, I kept on turning.
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore.

And I turned twenty-one in prison doing 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 'cos Mama tried.

Instrumental break.

Dear old Daddy, rest his soul,
Left my Mom a heavy load;
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes.
Working 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 doing 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 'cos Mama tried.

The old hometown looks the same as I step down from the train
There to meet me is my mama and papa
Down the lane I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherry
It's good to touch the green green grass of home

The old house is still standing though the paint is cracked and dry
There's the old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherry
It's so good to touch the green green grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to meet me arms outreached smiling sweetly
It's so good to touch the green green grass of home

Then I awake and look around me at the four gray walls that surround me
And I realized that I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's that sad old padre
Arm in arm we'll walk at daybreak
And again I'll touch the green green grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak tree
And they lay me 'neath the green green grass of home

I COULD HAVE GONE RIGHT
(Mel Tillis)
≪ ⓒ '64 Cedarwood Publishing, BMI ≫

Oh I was born a good boy my mama loved me so
She gave me every chance she could to make my life a gold
But I fell in with the wrong crowd and the wrong crowd led me on
But I could have gone right just as easy as I went wrong
I went to the places where sin just waits for you
And I fell in with the wrong crowd like sinners always do
Now here I sit in prison just waiting for the day
When they'll lead me through that door and burn my life away
Oh mama please forgive me the shame is all my own
For I could have gone right just as easy as I went wrong
Oh mama please forgive me...

Revenge must be the reason,
Why forgiveness was a thing I never knew.
And someday soon I know you plan to hurt me,
But don't plan on getting by with the things you do.

Cause I'll always know when you been cheating.
And I'll always know you've been untrue.
I'll always know.

Your heart is like a window,
But when I look inside I see another man.
But go on and lie and tell him how you fooled me,
But remember I saw through you're evil plan.

Cause I'll always know when you been cheating.
And I'll always know you've been untrue.
I'll always know.
And don't forget it either.

You taught me how to love with all my heart
With all my soul I trusted you
And now you say we'll have to live apart
A thing I don't know how to do

You say someday I'll find somebody new
And I'll have not one regret
Stay a while if what you say is true
Stay and teach me to forget

You taught me how to worship you alone
And now you say that you must go
And people call me on the telephone
Just to say I told you so

You say someday I'll find somebody new
And I'll have not one regret
Stay a while if what you say is true
Stay and teach me to forget
Stay and teach me to forget

I hear that train a comin', it's comin' 'round the bend
I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I'm locked in Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin' on
And I hear that train a-rollin' on down to San Antone

When I was just a baby my mama told me "Son
Always be a good boy don't ever play with guns"
But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
When I hear that lonesome whistle I hang my head and I cry

I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars
Well, I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free
But I hear that train a-rollin' and that's what tortures me

Well, if they freed me from this prison and that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it over a little farther down the line
Far from Folsom Prison that's where I long to be
And let that train keep rollin' and roll my blues away

YOU'LL NEVER LOVE ME NOW
(Merle Haggard)
≪ ⓒ '68 Tree Publishing, BMI ≫

Admitting you're to blame won't heal my wounded pride
It's too late to be ashamed I've already stepped aside
Just let me live again and please don't come around
If you never loved me then you'll never love me now
You fooled me all the way each time you held me tight
But when darkness turned to day then I finally saw the light
When I really needed you that's when you let me down
If you never loved me then you'll never love me now
Just let me live again...

TOO MANY BRIDGES TO CROSS OVER
(Dallas Frazier)
≪ ⓒ '68 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI ≫

Be close to me but please don't ever love me
Don't let your feelings carry you that far
I'll hold you in my arms buy you clothes and pretty charms
And I'll give you everything except my love
Because there's too many bridges to cross over
Too many places I ain't been
Yeah there's too many fields of tempting clover
Like an eagle I'm a prisoner of the wind
Well traveling was the nickname of my papa
And mama said he died cause he slowed down
Keep in mine these things I'm saying
Cause I ain't got the time to staying
Won't be long until my shoes touch distant ground
Because there's too many bridges...