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Momma's Prayers
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Jul 23, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
Merle Haggard's 'Mama's Prayer' is a country song reflecting on how his mother's prayers protected him through dangerous situations. He recounts surviving a knife attack in prison, a near-fatal car crash, and being spared from execution at San Quentin. The song emphasizes the power of a mother's intercessory prayer offered in Jesus' name, which he credits for his survival and transformation. It conveys gratitude for divine protection and the lasting impact of a praying parent.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
Back when I was doing time there's a night I can't forget
A mad man with a knife in hand tried to kill me while I slept
But somehow the knife missed its mark and I pinned the raging man
Somehow my mama's prayers had worked again
One night while we were driving across the mighty Texas plains
A car pulled out with its headlights out head on into our lane
As Deanrow swerved and missed the car I felt a mighty hand
Somehow my mama's prayers had worked again
Mama's prayers were always with me through the battlefields of life
She prayed for me and said amen in the name of Jesus Christ
From the death house in San Quentin I walked away a better man
Somehow my mama's prayers had worked again
Mama's prayers were always with me through the battlefields of life
She prayed for me and said amen in the name of Jesus Christ
From the death house in San Quentin I walked away a better man
Somehow my mama's prayers had worked again