Introduction
Carrying the Torch: A Stirring Tribute in Ben Haggard w/ Noel Haggard – “Mama Tried” @ Eddie Owen Presents
When a classic country song is passed down through generations, it becomes more than music—it becomes legacy. That’s exactly what we witness in Ben Haggard w/ Noel Haggard – “Mama Tried” @ Eddie Owen Presents, a performance that’s as much about honoring family as it is about celebrating one of Merle Haggard’s most enduring songs. Performed by his sons, Ben Haggard and Noel Haggard, this rendition captures the heart, grit, and honesty that made the original a cornerstone of American country music.
First released by Merle Haggard in 1968, Mama Tried is a song that many country fans can recite by heart. It’s the raw confession of a man who acknowledges the pain he’s caused his mother, despite her best efforts to raise him right. The song is steeped in sorrow and personal reflection, and Merle—having served time himself—delivered it with a weight that only lived experience can bring.
What makes this modern performance by Ben and Noel Haggard so powerful is not just their vocal ability, but their deep, lived-in connection to the material. Both men grew up with this song not just in the background, but in their blood. And it shows. Noel brings a gritty, seasoned tone that echoes his father’s weariness, while Ben’s smooth, steady vocals add a newer, contemplative layer. Together, they weave old and new into something that feels deeply respectful yet refreshingly alive.
The setting—Eddie Owen Presents, a venue known for spotlighting true songwriting craft—adds intimacy to the performance. There’s no elaborate production, no overdone staging. Just two sons, two guitars, and a song that’s been sung across decades. And in that simplicity, the emotional weight shines through.
Ben Haggard w/ Noel Haggard – “Mama Tried” @ Eddie Owen Presents isn’t just a cover. It’s a passing of the torch, a living tribute that reminds us why Merle’s words still resonate today. It speaks to the struggle of growing up, the regret of letting someone down, and the eternal hope that love—especially a mother’s love—never truly fades. For long-time country fans, this performance is a poignant reminder that the Haggard legacy is in good hands.
Video
Lyrics
The first thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a young un’s dream of growin’ up to ride
On a freight train leavin’ town
Not knowin’ where I’m bound
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
One and only rebel child
From a family, meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learnin’
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin’
‘Til Mama couldn’t hold me anymore
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin’ life without parole
No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame ’cause Mama tried
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul
Left my Mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Workin’ hours without rest
Wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right but I refused
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin’ life without parole