Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye

That's what my momma told me when I was about knee high

Said "Son now be a proud man, and hold your head up high

Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye,"



When I was young boy ...

But I was young and foolish then, and much too blind to see

I ignored the things she said as if I never heard

Now I see and understand the meaning of her words



Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye

That's what my momma told me when I was about knee high

Said "Son now be a proud man, and hold your head up high

Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye,"



Started going to places, where youngsters shouldn't go

Got to know the kind of girls it's better not to know

Fell in with a bad crowd and laughed and drank with them

And through the laughter mama's words would echo now and then '



Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye

It's what my momma told me when I was about knee high

Said "Son now be a proud man, and hold your head up high

Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye,"



Got in trouble with the law, and I'm in prison now

Through these prison bars I see things so much different now

I got one year left to serve, and when my time is done

I'll walk tall and I'll walk straight, and mama'll be proud to call me son.



Walk tall, walk straight, and look the world right in the eye

That's what my momma told me when I was about knee high

Said "Son now 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 tall