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Mama Tried
The first thing I remember knowin’ he poet of the people, Merle Haggard’s songs
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’ Tspeak to the American experience like none
And a young un’s dream of growin’ up to ride other, and he defined what a country song was for
On a freight train leavin’ town a generation.
Not knowin’ where I’m bound
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6,
2016) was an American country singer, songwriter,
One and only rebel child guitarist, and fiddler.
From a family, meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store Haggard was born in Oildale, California, during
Despite all my Sunday learnin’ the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin’ after the death of his father, and he was
‘Til Mama couldn’t hold me anymore
incarcerated several times in his youth. After being
released from San Quentin State Prison in 1960,
And I turned twenty-one in prison
doin’ life without parole he managed to turn his life around and launch a
No one could steer me right successful Country music career. He gained
but Mama tried, Mama tried popularity with his songs about the working class
Mama tried to raise me better, that occasionally contained themes contrary to the
but her pleading, I denied prevailing anti-Vietnam War sentiment of much
That leaves only me to blame popular music of the time. Between the 1960s and
‘cause Mama tried the 1980s, he had 38 number-one hits on the US
country charts, several of which also made the
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul Billboard all-genre singles chart. Haggard
Left my Mom a heavy load continued to release successful albums into the
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes 2000s.
Workin’ hours without rest
Wanted me to have the best He received many honors and awards for his
She tried to raise me right but I refused music, including a Kennedy Center Honor (2010),
a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2006),
And I turned twenty-one in prison a BMI Icon Award (2006), and induction into the
doin’ life without parole Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977),
No one could steer me right Country Music Hall of Fame (1994) and
but Mama tried, Mama tried Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (1997). He died on
Mama tried to raise me better, April 6, 2016 — his 79th birthday — at his ranch in
but her pleading, I denied Shasta County, California, having recently suffered
That leaves only me to blame from double pneumonia.
‘cause Mama tried
Haggard’s last recording, a song called “Kern River
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Merle Haggard Blues,” described his departure from Bakersfield in
Mama Tried lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing the late 1970s and his displeasure with politicians.
LLC The song was recorded February 9, 2016, and
features his son Ben on guitar. This record was
To listen follow this link.... released on May 12, 2016.
(Source Wikipedia)
24 www.writeawaymag.co.uk
