Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded - Warren Zevon

Gambler ambled down a country lane

Looking for a game of chance

She was twenty-one or two

And she knew what she wanted

And she wanted that gamblin' man

Her parents warned her

Tried to reason with her

She was determined that she wanted Bill

They’d all be offended at the mention still

If they heard this song, which I doubt they will

And my mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with her

No, no nevertheless

I said my mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with her

«Daughter, don’t marry that gamblin' man.»

Gambler tried to be a family man

Though it didn’t suit his style

He thought he had him a winning combination

So he took us where the stakes were high

Her parents warned her

Tried to reason with her

Never kept their disappointment hid

They all went to pieces when the bad luck hit

Stuck in the middle, I was the kid

And my mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with her

No, no, nevertheless

My Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When my Granny pleaded with her

Not to marry that gamblin' man

I said my mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man

Mama couldn’t be persuaded

When they pleaded with their daughter

Don’t marry that gamblin' man