The first thing I remember knowin'
Was a lonesome whistle blowin'
And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
On a freight train leavin' town
Not knowin' where I'm bound
And no one could change my mind
From a family, meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learnin'
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin'
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore
And I turned twenty-one 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 pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame
And I turned twenty-one 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 pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama
