ATF: Moms and Dads

This series will include as many of my all-time favorite (ATF) tunes as I can get my grubby little hands on (so to speak).  Now, each one included in each edition will have some connection with the other—albeit only as a figment of my imagination, but they will not be numbered.  For I just cannot bring myself to rate some higher than others.  So, this will not be a countdown, but if you are enjoying them as much as I do, it won’t matter.  Besides, with no countdown, this could go on forever and ever!  Oh, and despite the fact that there is absolutely no way your musical tastes could be as exquisite as mine, I welcome any suggestions you might dare to make.  For I am, after all, quite magnanimous by nature.

Link: [Merle Haggard]

Mama Tried

Merle Haggard

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

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 learnin’

Towards the bad I kept on turnin’

‘Til Mama

Couldn’t hold me anymore

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 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

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 tried

Link: [The Temptations]

Papa Was a Rolling Stone

The Temptations

It was the third of September

That day I'll always remember

Yes I will

‘Cause

That was the day

That my daddy died

I never got a chance to see him

Never heard nothin'

But bad things about him

Mama I'm dependin’ on you

To tell me the truth

Mama just hung her head

And said

Son

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Papa was a rollin’ stone

My son yeah

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Well well

Hey mama

Is it true what they say

That papa never worked a day

In his life

And mama

Some bad talk goin' round town sayin'

That papa had three outside children

And another wife

And that ain't right

Heard them talking papa

Doin’ some storefront preachin'

Talked about saving souls

And all the time leachin’

Dealin’ in debt

And stealin’ in the name of the Lord

Mama just hung her head

And said

Papa was a rollin’ stone

My son

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Hey

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Yeah honey

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Hey mama

I heard papa called himself

A jack of all trades

Tell me is that what sent papa

To an early grave

Folks say papa would

Beg

Borrow

Steal

To pay his bills

Hey mama

Folks say papa never was

Much on thinkin’

Spent most of his time

Chasin’ women and drinkin’

Mama I'm dependin’ on you

To tell me the truth

Mama looked up with a tear in her eye

And said

Son

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Well well well well

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

Hey yeah

And when he died

All he left us was alone

Alone

Alone

Alone

Alone

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

Hey yeah

And when he died

All he left us was alone

I said hey

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Yes he was

My son

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

And when he died

All he left us was alone

My baby

Well

Yes he was

Papa was a rollin’ stone

Wherever he laid his hat was his home

Lyrics From: [eLyrics.net]

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