Countryklassiekers du jour: Sing me back home / Mama tried

De Americana, al heette het toen nog niet zo, leerde je kennen via de VPRO. Ik herinner mij twistgesprekken achter de microfoon tussen naar ik meen Rik Zaal en Jan Donkers over “of je Merle Haggard mocht draaien”. Donkers zette Working man blues in maar dat vermocht Zaal niet te vermurwen. Voor beiden viel wat te zeggen. Maar al had hij alleen maar de volgende twee nummers op zijn repertoire gehad dan had hij zijn plaats in de Country Hall Of Fame al verdiend. Beide nummers komen voor op HET album aller tijden, Roots van de Everly Brothers uit 1968. Eerst het autobiografische en kippevelverwekkende Sing me back home.

The warden led a prisoner down the hallway to his doom
I stood up to say good-bye like all the rest
And I heard him tell the warden just before he reached my cell
‘Let my guitar playing friend do my request.’

Let him sing me back home with a song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing Me Back Home before I die

I recall last Sunday morning a choir from ‘cross the street
Came to sing a few old gospel songs
And I heard him tell the singers ‘There’s a song my mama sang.
Could I hear it once before you move along?’

Won’t you sing me back home, the song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Please take me away and turn back the years
Sing Me Back Home before I die

Sing Me Back Home before I die

De versie van de Everlies:

Mama tried

The first thing I remember knowing
Was a lonesome whistle blowing
And a young’un’s dream of growing up to ride
On a freight train leaving town
Not knowing 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 learning
Towards the bad I kept on turning
Till Mama couldn’t hold me anymore

And I turned twenty-one in prison doing 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
Working 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 doing 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

Gene Clark speelt even mee in deze playback van de Everlies:

“U is veel vergeven want u heeft veel liefgehad”