I wish I'd known the man a little better

that turned my mama on

he must have been a heck of a man

'cause mama was a lady don't you know



Mama was no prude but she was proper

never wore her dress to short

she didn't care if he did

but she'd of never taken a drink

Grandma Kate did the best she could

To see mama grew up right

so she'd be fittin one day for court

and to wear some gentleman's ring



Chorus:

I wish I'd known the man a little better

that turned my mama on

he was always laughing

and singing the right sweet song

I wish I'd known the man a little better

the turned my mama on

He must have been a heck of a man

'Cause mama was a lady don't you know



I hear he came to town one day

in a rusty old '49 Ford

selling lady's shoes and assorted greeting cards

he was killing good looking

and easy to like

and turning all the ladies' heads

but he saw mama first

and the Lord knows how some of them travelin men are



Chorus



Mama seemed to forget the things

that Grandma Kate had always told her

she ran away one night with a traveling man

they bought gas at Rita's truck stop

and drove to Dasota County

but he brought her home with a ring upon her hand

mama's told me how the fever took him

when I was barely 5

but I remember him pitchin me up

and catching me

and I love to sit and listen to her

tell me about my daddy

she said he thought the sun would surely

rise and set in me



Chorus