I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised) feat. Johnny
George Jones · I'm the Only Hell Moma Ever Raised (George Jones & Johnny Paychec [1996]
Guess that's why she let me go so far
Momma tried to 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 mama ever raised.
Well, I rolled into Atlanta, stolen tags and almost out of gas
I had to get some money, lately I'd learned how to get it fast
Those neon lights was calling me and somehow I had to get downtown
So I reached into the glovebox, another liquor store went down.
Chorus:
And I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' 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 moma ever raised.
Well, they put those handcuffs on me, Lord how I fought to resist
They just clamped 'em tighter, 'til that metal bit into my wrist
They took my belts and my billfold, my fingerprints, and the profile of my face
Then they locked away the only hell my moma ever ever raised.
Chorus:
And I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' days
Let me hear my momma singing, "Rock of Ages" cleft for me
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, and I turned on to the devil's ways
And I turned out to be the only hell my moma ever raised.
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, and I turned on to the devil's ways
And I turned out to be the only hell my moma ever raised...
I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)
George Jones delivers a haunting rendition of 'I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)' featuring Johnny Paycheck on the 1996 album 'I'm the Only Hell Mama Ever Raised.' As a defining voice of country music, Jones' baritone carries the weight of deep sorrow and resilience, characteristic of his later career work. The collaboration with Paycheck highlights the enduring tradition of duets in the genre, where two masters of the craft intertwine their narratives. This recording captures the raw emotional depth that defined Jones' discography, particularly his ability to convey complex familial and personal struggles through his vocal performance. The track stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of country music during the mid-to-late 1990s, blending traditional storytelling with the polished production of the era.