Hungry Eyes - Merle Haggard

A canvas-covered cabin
in a crowded labor camp
stand out in this memory I revive,
'cause my daddy raised the fam'ly there
with two hard-workin' hands
and tried to feed my mama's hungry eyes.
He dreamed of somethin' better,
and my mama's faith was strong,
and us, kids, were just too young to realize
that another class of people
put us somewhere just below;
one more reason for my mama's hungry eyes.
Mama never had the luxuries she wanted,
but it wasn't 'cause my daddy didn't try.
She only wanted things she really needed;
one more reason for my mama's hungry eyes.
I remember daddy prayin'
for a better way of life
but I don't recall a change of any size,
just a little loss of courage
as their age began to show,
and more sadness in my mama's hungry eyes.
Mama never had the luxuries she wanted,
but it wasn't 'cause my daddy didn't try.
She only wanted things she really needed;
one more reason for my mama's hungry eyes.
Oh, I still recall my mama's hungry eyes.