Merle Haggard — Medley: Tulare Dust / Mama Tried lyrics

Lyrics

Tulare dust in a farm boy’s nose,
Wonderin' where the frieght train goes.
Standin' in a field by the railroad tracks,
Cussin' the strap on my cotton sack.
I can see Mom and Dad their shoulders low,
Both of em' pickin' a double row.
They do it for a livin' because they must.
Thats life like it is in the Tulare Dust.
First thing I remember knowin,
was a lonesome whistle blowin'
and a young' un’s dream of growin' up to ride
On a frieght train leavin' town not knowing where I’m bound
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried.
One an only rebel child from a family meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store,
'Spite all my Sunday learnin' toward the bad I kept on turnin' 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 and 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 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 and that leaves only me to blame cause Mama Tried.