Mama Raised a Devil

Mama worked two jobs at the diner Took me to church every Lord's day Put me through a Christian school With nickels she should've saved Said "Boy, the devil's in your daddy So I'm tryin' twice as hard Don't you turn into that man Don't you show me his card"

I made it to twenty-three clean And then I made a choice Took a man's life in Birmingham Because he had the wrong voice Made it thirty before I told her Through a payphone in Mobile She said "Son, I love you anyway But the devil got his meal"

Mama raised a devil Mama raised a man Mama raised the both of us And I don't know which I am Mama raised a devil She knew the day I was born The way I kicked inside her And the way I came out torn Mama raised a devil And she loved him just the same

I went back home to bury her Last April, cold and wet Stood at the head of the service And I ain't quit cryin' yet Preacher said "Son, you wanna speak?" I said "Preacher, let me try" And I told 'em I was the devil And their mama loved me 'til she died

Told 'em about the two tours Told 'em 'bout the money and the men Told 'em 'bout the folks I ruined And the brothers I'd never see again Told 'em "She never stopped prayin' And I never stopped bein' wrong But she made me who I am And the devil's got a song"

I don't know if I'm saved I don't know if I'm damned I just know my mama Had a son of a devil man And she brushed his hair at bedtime And she taught him how to read And she loved a son of a devil 'Til she put that son in me

Mama raised a devil Mama raised a man Mama raised me like I was worth savin' When the whole damn town said I can't Mama raised a devil And she buried her face in my chest And she whispered "Boy, you're my miracle" 'Fore she laid down to rest Mama raised a devil And she loved him the best Mama raised a devil And she loved him the best

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