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 I did, but she'd have 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 courtin' And to wear some gentleman's ring I wish I'd known the man a little better That turned my mama on They say he was always laughing and sang a right nice 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 killin' good-lookin' and easy to like And turnin' all the ladies heads But he saw mama first and you've heard stories 'Bout how some of them travelin' men are I wish I'd known the man a little better That turned my mama on They say he was always laughing and sang a right nice 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 Mama seemed to forget the things that Grandma Kate had always told her She ran away one night with that travelin' man hey bought gas at Reba's truck stop and drove to DeSoto County But he brought her home next day, a lady, with a ring upon her hand Mama told me how the fever took him when I was barely five But I can remember him pitchin' me up and catchin' me And I love to sit and listen to her tell me about my Daddy She says he thought the sun must surely rise and set in me I wish I'd known the man a little better That turned my mama on They say he was always laughing and sang a right nice 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