LONOMUSIC ISLAND STYLE COVER FROM MERLE HAGGARD "MAMA TRIED" 1968

Merle Haggard wrote "Mama Tried" (recorded May 9, 1968; released as a single July 22, 1968). en.wikipedia.org It is the title track from his 1968 album Mama Tried and became one of his signature songs, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Haggard has described writing it after his release from prison (drawing on his own experiences, though not fully autobiographical—for example, he was not sentenced to life without parole). Some secondary sources claim he wrote it while incarcerated, but his own account states he did not write any recordable songs in prison. americansongwriter.com The song is widely credited solely to him as the songwriter. BACK IN THE DAYS I WENT TO SAN QUINTIN TO VISIT A FRIEND WHO WAS HELD THERE FOR 5 YEARS. WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, THERE WAS A PARTY FOR HIM IN LAHAINA AND I WAS THERE TO GREET HIM. HE SEEMED A BIT ANGRY AS WE FOUND OUT THAT NO ONE VISITED HIM EXCEPT FOR ME. HE SHARED WITH ME MERLE'S PLIGHT THERE. WHILE JET BOATING UP AT LAKE SHASTA MERLE'S ALL CROME HOUSE BOAT WENT BY AND WE GOT TO SEE HIM PLAY THAT NIGHT. I FASHIONED THIS SONG BEST I COULD AND IT HAS BEEN ON MY PLAYLIST FOR 4 PLUS DECADES.