All through the years that I grew up, ma taught these
things to me
But I was young and foolish then and much too blind to
see
I ignored the things she said as if I'd never heard
Now I see and understand the wisdom of her words
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
That's what my mama told me when I was about knee high
She said, son, be a proud man and hold your head up
high
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
I started goin' places where the youngsters shouldn't
go
I got to know the kind of girls it's better not to know
I fell in with a bad crowd and laughed and drank with
them
Through the laughter mama's words would echo now and
then
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
That's what my mama told me when I was about knee high
She said, son, be a proud man and hold your head up
high
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
I got in trouble with the law and I'm in prison now
Through these prison bars I see things so much
different now
I've got one year left to serve and when my time is
done
I'll walk tall and straight and make ma proud to call
me son
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
That's what my mama told me when I was about knee high
She said, son, be a proud man and hold your head up
high
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in
the eye
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in