{t:Mama Tried}
{st:Merle Haggard (1968)}
{c:strum: | d - D u d - D u | (weak STRONG and) 1 2 & 3 4 &}
{c:verse 1}
The first thing [D]I remember [G]knowing
Was a [D]lonesome whistle [G]blowing
And a [D]young one's dream of growing up to [A7]ride
On a [D]freight train leaving [G]town
Not [D]knowing where I'm [G]bound
And no [D]one could change my [A7]mind but Mama [D]tried
{c:verse 1}
One and [D]only rebel [G]child
From a [D]family meek and [G]mild
My [D]mama seemed to know what lay in [A7]store
Despite [D]all my Sunday [G]learning
Towards the [D]bad I kept on [G]turning
Till [D]Mama couldn't [A7]hold me any [D]more
{soc}
And I turned [D]twenty-one in prison doing [G]life without pa-[D]role
No [Bm]one could steer me right but Mama [A]tried, Mama tried
Mama [D]tried to raise me better but her [G]pleading I de-[D]nied
That leaves [D]only me to [A7]blame cause Mama [D]tried
{eoc}
{c:verse 3}
Dear old [D]Daddy rest his [G]soul
Left my [D]Mom a heavy [G]load
She [D]tried so very hard to fill his [A7]shoes
Working [D]hours without [G]rest
Wanted [D]me to have the [G]best
She [D]tried to raise me [A7]right but I re-[D]fused
{soc}
And I turned [D]twenty-one in prison doing [G]life without pa-[D]role
No [Bm]one could steer me right but Mama [A]tried, Mama tried
Mama [D]tried to raise me better but her [G]pleading I de-[D]nied
That leaves [D]only me to [A]blame cause Mama [D]↓tried
{eoc}
