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 too short She didn't care if you did but she'd never taken a drink Grandma Kate did the best she could to see mama grew up right So she'd be fitting one day for courting and to wear some gentleman's ring I wish I'd known the man a little better that turned my mama on People was always laughing and sang a right sweet song 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 I hear he came to town one day in a rusty old '49 Ford Selling ladies shoes and assorted greeting cards He was killer good looking and easy to like and turning all the ladies heads But he saw mama first and Lord knows how some of them traveling men are 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 seemed to forget the things that grandma Kate had always told her She ran away one night with that traveling man They bought gas at Reba's Truck Stop and drove to Desoto 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 five But I remember him pitching me up and catching me And I love to sit and listen to her tell me about my daddy She says he thought the sun would surely rise and set in me 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