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