Well, I can't sell my momma short on loving meI guess that's why she let me go so farMomma always stopped me short of stealingI guess thats why I had to steal that carShe told me not to smoke itBut I did and it took me far awayAnd I turned out to beThe only hell mama ever raisedI pulled into Atlanta, stolen tags and almost out of gasI had to get some money, and lately I'd learned how to get it fastThose neon lights was calling me and somehow I had to get downtownI reached into the glovebox, another liquor store went downAnd I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' daysI can hear my momma singing, "Rock of Ages" cleft for meShe tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's waysAnd I turned out to be the only hell my moma ever raisedWhen they put those handcuffs on me, Lord how I fought to resistBut that agent clamped 'em tighter, 'til that metal bit into my wristThey took my boots and my billfold, my fingerprints, and the profile of my faceThen they locked away the only hell my moma ever ever raisedAnd I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' daysI can hear my momma singing, "Rock of Ages" cleft for meShe tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's waysAnd I turned out to be the only hell my moma ever raised...
