I can't sell my mama short on loving me
I guess that's why she let me go so far
Momma try to stopped me short of stealing
I guess that's why I had to steal that car

She told me not to smoke it
But I did and it took me far away
And I turned out to be
The only hell mama ever raised

Well, I rolled into Atlanta, stolen tags and almost out of gas
I had to get some money, and lately I'd learned how to get it fast
Those neon lights was calling me and somehow I just had to get downtown
So, I reached into the glove box, another liquor store went down

And I said, precious memories, take me back to the good ol' days
Let me hear my momma singing, rock of ages cleft for me
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's ways
And I turned out to be the only hell my momma ever raised

When they put those handcuffs on me, lord how I fought to resist
But the agent clamped 'em tighter, till that metal bit into my wrists
They took my belt and my billfold, my fingerprints, and the profile of my face
Then they locked away the only hell my momma ever raised

And I sing precious memories, take me back to the good ol' days
Let me hear my momma singing, rock of ages cleft for me
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's ways
And I turned out to be the only hell my momma ever raised