Merle Haggard's song Mama's Prayer tells the story of a man who had faced many difficult and dangerous situations in his life, but his mother's prayers had always been with him. The first verse describes how the man had been attacked by a madman with a knife, but he managed to defend himself and survive thanks to his mother's prayers. The second verse tells of a near-miss car accident, where the man felt he was saved by a higher power because of his mother's prayers. The chorus repeats the message that the man's mother had always prayed for him, and that her prayers had helped him through the "battlefields of life." The final verse describes how the man had even been in the death house of San Quentin, but had walked away a better person. The song emphasizes the power of prayer and the love and support of a mother, even in the face of difficult and seemingly impossible situations. Overall, Mama's Prayer is a tribute to the importance of faith, family and the power of prayer to overcome tough times.