Mama tried, but mama failed
I'm surprised she lived to tell the tale
I'm hangin with the boys tonight
Down at the county jail
Mama tried, but mama failed
Mama was a good'un
But she couldn't plan for me
I came in this world
The same day she turned 17
Mama ain't that bright
But if you take a look at me
You'll find the apple don't fall too far from the tree
Mama tried, but mama failed
You can't empty out the ocean with a pail
And what you gonna do
With all the fishes and the whales?
Mama tried, but mama failed
Daddy was a cowboy
And by that I mean a lush
Went out one night for gas
And that's the last he saw of us
I don't know what we ever did
To make him want to leave
But he still comes and borrows money
In my dreams
Mama tried, but mama failed
There ain't no checks a-coming in the mail
And you ain't gotta buy it
Just cause they got it for sale
Mama tried, but mama failed
I know I took it hard
When my PaPaw passed away
He taught me how to work
And he taught me how to play
Sometimes me and Johnnie Walker
Walk on down to PaPaw's grave
And do it up again for old time's sake
Mama tried, but mama failed
Mama's tied to the rails
And I don't ask no questions
I just start pullin nails
Mama tried, but mama failed
Mama tried, but mama failed
I'm surprised she lived to tell the tale
These boys are lookin kinda rapey
Hope somebody gets my bail
Mama tried, but mama failed
credits
from It's Fixin to Blow,
released April 1, 2018
Written by J.D. Avera. Arranged, performed, recorded and mixed by J.D. Avera at Atomic Eye Studios in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
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