[Verse 1]
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


[Chorus]
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


[Verse 2]
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


[Chorus]
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


[Instrumental Break]


[Bridge]
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


[Chorus]
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