"Mama's Song" lyrics

She was born on the plains, where the wide open range rises up to the edge of the sky
Where the tumbleweeds roll and the buffalo roam and the coyotes howl through the night
When she turned seventeen she was rodeo queen, but she never did hold to the crown
'Cause them tall city lights on those West Texas nights kept a-calling her closer to town

She was raised up on Willie, Waylon, and Jones
But she never did learn to love sad country songs
She dreamed of starting a family, building a home

She went off to college, worked hard and earned her degree
Met her a doctor from out in Fort Stockton, got married and then she had me
I grew up not knowing to rope, not knowing to ride
No horse and no saddle, no hat and no cattle
No breathing in smoke from a hot branding fire

I learned about Willie, Waylon, and Jones
I learned how to play all them sad country songs
'Cause my heroes have always been cowboys
Mama tried, my mama tried

Now I stand on this stage, pick on this guitar and sing
Driving around to every small town, chasing this neon dream
And I hope and I pray, every day, I make my mama proud
Singing these sad country songs for a sad country crowd

And I sing about Willie, Waylon, and Jones
I teach all these sinners them sad country songs
My heroes have always been cowboys
Mama tried, my mama tried, mama tried

Mama, please let your babies grow up to be cowboys