Well I can’t sell my momma short on loving me
I guess that's why she let me go so far
Momma always 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 my momma ever raised

I pulled 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 had to get downtown
I reached into the glove box another liquor store went down

And I sing Precious Memories take me back to the good old days
I can 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 that agent clamped 'em tighter until that metal bit into my wrist
They took my boots and my billfold my fingerprints and the profile of my face
Then they locked away the only hell my momma ever raised