Link: [Merle Haggard]
Not every song thatwill be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian”in the eyes of this world. For some willbe anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviouslyferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (inone way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear themessage.
Link: [On YouTube]
Mama Tried
Merle Haggard
The first thing Iremember knowin’
Was a lonesomewhistle blowin’
And a young-un’sdream
Of growin’ up toride
On a freight trainleavin’ town
Not knowin’ whereI’m bound
No one could changemy mind
But mama tried
One and only rebelchild
From a family meekand mild
My mama seemed toknow
What lay in store
Despite all mySunday learnin’
Towards the bad Ikept on turnin’
‘Til Mama
Couldn’t hold meanymore
And I turnedtwenty-one in prison
Doin’ life withoutparole
No one could steerme right
But mama tried
Mama tried
Mama tried to raiseme better
But her pleadin’ Idenied
That leaves only meto blame
‘Cause mama tried
Dear old daddy resthis soul
Left my mom a heavyload
She tried so veryhard
To fill his shoes
Workin’ hourswithout rest
Wanted me to havethe best
She tried to raiseme right
But I refused
And I turnedtwenty-one in prison
Doin’ life withoutparole
No one could steerme right
But mama tried
Mama tried
Mama tried to raiseme better
But her pleadin’ Idenied
That leaves only meto blame
‘Cause mama tried
Link: [On YouTube]
Leonard
Merle Haggard
When Leonardfinally came to California
He was twenty-oneyears old as I recall
He loved to write asong and pick the guitar
And he came to hanga gold one on the wall
The town in whichhe lived is not important
But you’ll knowwhich town I mean
By the time I’mthrough
He soon became afamous entertainer
But Leonard was aname he never used
He was on his wayto havin’ what he wanted
Just about as closeas one could be
Hey
Once he evenfollowed Elvis Presley
And he wrote a lotof country songs for me
But he laid it allaside to follow Jesus
For years he choseto let his music go
But preachin’wasn’t really meant for Leonard
But how in the Hellwas Leonard supposed to know
Well life began totwist its way around him
And I wondered howhe carried such a load
He came back againto try his luck in music
And lost his wifeand family on the road
After that he seemed to bog down even deeper.
And I saw what booze and pills could really do.
And I wondered if I’d ever see him sober.
But I forgot abouta Friend that Leonard knew
Well Leonard gaveme lots of inspiration
He helped teach mehow to write a country song
And he even broughtaround a bag of groceries
Hey
Back before Muskogeecame along
Really
I’m not tryin’ tohide his show-name
Or the town inwhich this episode began
Somehow I had towrite a song for old Tommy
If just to see thesmilin’ faces in the band
When Leonardfinally came to California
He was twenty-oneyears old as I recall
And he loved towrite a song and pick the guitar
And he came to hanga gold one on the wall
Lyrics From:[Cowboy Lyrics]
Please Also Visit:
and
