Don’t know what I said

Or what I failed to say

Don’t know what I did

Or where I walked away

Don’t know what I bought

Or what I never gave

Don’t know what I thought

Or what I tried to save

But I tried my best

And ya'll know 'Mama Tried'

Now it’s Haggard time

These old tears won’t hide

Got a lonesome heart

And a guilty mind

Paying for my sins

One night at a time

Don’t know what I sought

Or what I let slip by

If I held too tight

Or never did quite try

If I stayed too long

Or if I came too late

If I loved too hard

Or loved past your grace

But I tried my best

And ya'll know 'Mama Tried'

Now it’s Haggard time

These old tears won’t hide

Got a lonesome heart

And a guilty mind

Paying for my sins

One night at a time

Don’t know where it turned

From right into wrong

Don’t know when your light

Left the edge of my song

But I hear that twang

In the back of my mind

Merle on the box

While I’m serving my time

Yeah, I tried my best

And ya'll know 'Mama Tried'

Now it’s Haggard time

These old tears won’t hide

Got a lonesome heart

And a guilty mind

Doing my hard time

Thru this Haggard night