Tanya Tucker – What’s Your Mama’s Name

“What’s Your Mama’s Name” is a song written by Dallas Frazier and Earl Montgomery, and recorded by American country music artist Tanya Tucker. It was released in February 1973 as the first single and title track from the album What’s Your Mama’s Name. “What’s Your Mama’s Name” was Tucker’s fourth hit on the country chart and her first number one. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the chart. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, it reached number eighty-six.

B-side “Rainy Girl”
Released February 16, 1973
Recorded January 5, 1973
Genre Country
Length 3:03
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Dallas Frazier and Earl Montgomery
Producer(s) Billy Sherrill

Tanya Tucker – What’s Your Mama’s Name lyrics

Thirty some odd years ago
A young man came to Memphis
Askin’ ’bout a rose that used to blossom
In his world
People never took the time
to mind the young man’s questions
Until one day they heard him ask
a little green eyed girl

[Chorus:]
What’s your mama’s name child
What’s your mama’s name
Does she ever talk about
A place called New Orleans
Has she ever mentioned
A man named Buford Wilson
What’s your mama’s name child
What’s your mama’s name

Twenty some odd years ago
A drunkard down in Memphis
Lost a month of life and labor
To the county jail
Just because he asked a little green eyed girl a question
And offered her a nickel’s worth of candy if she’d tell

A year and some odd days ago
An old man died in Memphis
Just another wayward soul
The county had to claim
Inside the old man’s ragged coat
They found a faded letter
It said you have a daughter
And her eyes are Wilson green

[Repeat Chorus]