Your Take: Songs About Mama
Whether it’s a song sang in confidence (The Judds’ “Mama He’s Crazy”), in honor of (Jamie O’Neal’s “Somebody’s Hero”) or in jest (Clay Walker’s “‘Fore She Was Mama”), maternal figures have always played important roles in the lives of country artists and their songs.
Waylon Jennings hoped mothers would use him as an example for their children on what not to be, and Merle Haggard saw in hindsight he had nobody to blame for his troubles but himself after disregarding his mother’s warnings. Even Taylor Swift switched out men for mom in “The Best Day,” a tune (and marketing scheme) that allows fans to customize an online Mother’s Day card with personal photos and messages.
While usually portrayed as wise soothsayers, multi-taskers and damn-near saints, some mom songs are a little more bittersweet (Kellie Pickler’s “I Wonder” and Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”), sippy-cup (Lonestar’s “Mr. Mom”) or kind of awkward (Trace Adkins’ “Hot Mama”).
And that’s just for starters.
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, let us know your favorite country song about moms, or a particular song you associate with your mother.
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May 9, 2009 at 8:40 am Permalink
“Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard
“Mother,The Queen of My Heart” by Jimmie Rodgers
May 9, 2009 at 8:50 am Permalink
“Roses For Mama” by C.W. McCall
“No Charge” by Melba Montgomery
May 9, 2009 at 8:53 am Permalink
“I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised” by Johnny Paycheck
May 9, 2009 at 9:01 am Permalink
“Momma, Don’t let her babies grow up to be Cowboys”
“Angels” -Randy Travis
May 9, 2009 at 9:54 am Permalink
“Medals For Mothers,” the Osborne Brothers; “Bouquet In Heaven” and “I Heard My Mother Call My Name In Prayer,” Flatt & Scruggs; “A Vision Of Mother,” the Stanley Brothers; “Dreaming Of A Little Cabin” (best version is by Mac Wiseman); “Mother’s Only Sleeping,” Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys. And my personal all-time favorite, the Wildwood Valley Boys’ “Box Seat In Heaven.”
May 9, 2009 at 10:13 am Permalink
“These Four Walls” by Sara Evans
May 9, 2009 at 10:47 am Permalink
Ain’t Dead Yet – Ashton Shepherd
Don’t Tell Mama I was Drinkin’ – Gary Allan
May 9, 2009 at 11:06 am Permalink
Elizabeth Cook – Mama’s Prayers
Elizabeth Cook – Mama Wanted to be a Singer Too
Iris Dement – Mama’s Opry
Holly Williams – Mama
Elizabeth Cook was a lst minute fill-in on last night’s Opry show and she kicked butt as usual. That gal deserves so much more commercial success than she has earned thus far…
May 9, 2009 at 11:54 am Permalink
“I’d Rather Ride Around With You” by Reba is a song that’s always reminded me of my mother.
Why that is I do not know.
May 9, 2009 at 12:25 pm Permalink
Kasey Chambers “Mother”
May 9, 2009 at 1:33 pm Permalink
If only Billy Joe had listened to his mother on Johnny Cash’s “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town.” Momma evidently does know best.
May 9, 2009 at 6:43 pm Permalink
Not so much any particular song, but an artist, Tammy Wynette. She always had a country radio station on an anytime a Tammy song was played she sang right along, at the top of her lungs!
May 9, 2009 at 10:36 pm Permalink
I must admit to having a soft spot for both Jamey Johnson’s “Stars In Alabama” and Blake Shelton’s “The Baby”.
May 9, 2009 at 11:16 pm Permalink
“Mama Cried” – Alison Krauss & Union Station, sung by Dan Tyminski
May 10, 2009 at 9:19 am Permalink
Don’t tell Mama (I was drinking)–Gary Allan. a song that reflects a kids desire to never disappoint his mama
May 10, 2009 at 10:43 am Permalink
I always associate Mark Chesnutt’s ‘She Was’ with my own mother.
Reba’s ‘Fancy’ is a non-conventional song about Mamas.
May 10, 2009 at 11:14 am Permalink
The Grascals cut on “Don’t Tell Mama (I Was Drinking),” with a recitation by George Jones – if you haven’t heard it yet, you need to. Geeky bit of trivia: the Grascals’ Jamie Johnson and Gary Allan’s fiddler, Levi Dennis, were bandmates in the Wildwood Valley Boys back in the fall of 2000.
May 10, 2009 at 11:16 am Permalink
Oh, and “The Baby” is a great song; it was cool of Blake to leave the names of the songwriters’ brothers in, too.
May 10, 2009 at 11:23 am Permalink
Sadly, one song that I associate with my mom is “Between a Mother & Child” by Chely Wright – we have not always had the best of relationships….
May 10, 2009 at 2:47 pm Permalink
Reba’s ‘Fancy’ is a non-conventional song about Mamas.
So was Garth’s “Papa Loved Mama”.
May 10, 2009 at 4:06 pm Permalink
Mama Don’t Forget to Pray for Me — Diamond Rio
May 10, 2009 at 4:23 pm Permalink
If you want unconventional looks at mothers and motherhood, don’t forget Parton’s “To Daddy.”
May 10, 2009 at 5:48 pm Permalink
In somewhat related news, Merle’s album “Mama Tried” is Amazon’s daily deal for 99 cents.
May 10, 2009 at 5:54 pm Permalink
I have to go with “Somebody’s Hero”, it’s just a great and touching song, the last verse reminds me of my late great grandmother.
May 10, 2009 at 6:06 pm Permalink
“How Can I Help You Say Good-bye” by Patty Loveless, also reminds me of my older sister.
Also “I Love A Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit, that’s memories of when I was little.
Just about anything Ray Stevens because she’s goofy like that. :)
May 10, 2009 at 9:30 pm Permalink
Ooh, I second ‘Mama Don’t Forget To Pray For Me’.
May 10, 2009 at 10:58 pm Permalink
Make that a third for “Mama Don’t Forget to Pray For Me”! Love that one! Also, as mentioned, “The Baby” is a great one. Another mama song from The Judds is “The Sweetest Gift”.
May 11, 2009 at 8:14 am Permalink
The Judds did a nice job with “The Sweetest Gift (A Mother’s Smile),” but they learned it from a wonderful early 70s recording by Hazel & Alice, and the song’s older than that.
Another bit of trivia: “Mama Don’t Forget To Pray For Me” was co-written by Larry Cordle, who sang harmony on Blake Shelton’s recording of “The Baby.”
May 11, 2009 at 10:46 am Permalink
One of my favorite mama songs – “Mama Liked The Roses” by Elvis; one that reminds me of my mother – anything by Tom Jones (her favorite singer), since this is a country list, let’s go with “I’ve Been Rained On Too”
May 11, 2009 at 2:36 pm Permalink
spice girls – mama
May 21, 2009 at 5:14 pm Permalink
My new song, “Momma’s Motorcycle” is a love song to my R-65. All Momma’s need to take a break and a motorcycle is the ultimate freedom!
July 2, 2009 at 11:34 am Permalink
How About Jesus And Mama
By Confederate Railroad
July 2, 2009 at 11:36 am Permalink
Mama Know The Highway~Hal Ketchum
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