Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” is a certified country classic. Many fans of the genre know the words by heart and some have lived them. For the most part, Haggard lived the story that unfolds in the song’s lyrics. However, he only received short prison sentences and was never looking at life without parole. However, the truth of the song lies in how hard his mother tried to steer a young Hag away from his outlaw ways.

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In a way, one could see “Mama Tried” as an apology. At the very least, it is an acknowledgment of the effort she put in to keep him on the straight and narrow. The song’s lyrics become even more meaningful while watching Haggard sing them during a concert with his mother sitting in the front row. The clip below hits like a hammer to the heart.

“Are you ready for your song, Mama” Haggard asks as the band prepares to play the song. The camera cuts to Ms. Haggard several times throughout the video. While she seems a little uncomfortable with the camera on her, the small smile of pride never slips from her face. The highlight of the performance, though, has very little do to with Hag or his band. It comes at the end when he asks his mother to stand up and take a bow and the audience gives her a standing ovation. “She’s to blame for this whole evening,” he told the crowd before telling them to not bother his mom.

Merle Haggard Found an Enduring Hit with “Mama Tried”

Merle Haggard wrote “Mama Tried” and released it in 1968 as the sole single from the album of the same name. It topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks. However, the song was much more than a hit for Hag. It became one of his signature songs and a cornerstone of his concerts for decades.

According to Songfacts, Haggard wrote “Mama Tried” while doing time in San Quentin on a robbery charge. While he was only doing a three-year sentence, much of the rest of the song comes directly from his life. His father died before he turned ten, leaving his devout Christian mother to raise him. She tried to impress her Christian values upon her son but he continued to rebel until he found himself behind bars.