Mama Tried Chords by Merle Haggard
Tempo:
97.95 bpm
Chords used:
D
G
A
Bm
Dm
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
[D]
The first thing I remember [G] knowing was [D] a lonesome whistle [G] blowing
and [D] a youngin's dream of growing up to [A] ride.
On [D] a freight train leaving [G] town, [D] not knowing where [G] I'm bound,
and no [D] one could change my [A] mind but Mama [D] tried.
One and only rebel [G] child from [D] a family meek and [G] mild,
my [D] Mama seemed to know what lay [A] in store.
Despite [D] all my Sunday [G] learning, for [D] it's the bad I kept [G] on turning
[D] till Mama [A] couldn't hold me [D] anymore.
I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
No one [Bm] could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me to blame
[A] cause [D] Mama tried.
[G] [Dm]
[D] Dear old Daddy, rest [G] his soul, left [D] my Mama heavy [G] load.
She [D] tried so very hard to fill [A] his shoes.
Working [D] hours without [G] rest, [D] wanted me to have [G] the best.
She [D] tried to raise [A] me right but I [D] refused.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
[Bm] No one could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me [A] to blame
cause Mama [D] tried.
The first thing I remember [G] knowing was [D] a lonesome whistle [G] blowing
and [D] a youngin's dream of growing up to [A] ride.
On [D] a freight train leaving [G] town, [D] not knowing where [G] I'm bound,
and no [D] one could change my [A] mind but Mama [D] tried.
One and only rebel [G] child from [D] a family meek and [G] mild,
my [D] Mama seemed to know what lay [A] in store.
Despite [D] all my Sunday [G] learning, for [D] it's the bad I kept [G] on turning
[D] till Mama [A] couldn't hold me [D] anymore.
I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
No one [Bm] could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me to blame
[A] cause [D] Mama tried.
[G] [Dm]
[D] Dear old Daddy, rest [G] his soul, left [D] my Mama heavy [G] load.
She [D] tried so very hard to fill [A] his shoes.
Working [D] hours without [G] rest, [D] wanted me to have [G] the best.
She [D] tried to raise [A] me right but I [D] refused.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
[Bm] No one could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me [A] to blame
cause Mama [D] tried.
Key:
D
G
A
Bm
Dm
D
G
A
[D] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ The first thing I remember [G] knowing was [D] a lonesome whistle [G] blowing
and [D] a youngin's dream of growing up to [A] ride.
On [D] a freight train leaving [G] town, [D] not knowing where [G] I'm bound,
and no [D] one could change my [A] mind but Mama [D] tried.
_ One and only rebel [G] child from [D] a family meek and [G] mild,
my [D] Mama seemed to know what lay [A] in store.
Despite [D] all my Sunday [G] learning, for [D] it's the bad I kept [G] on turning
[D] till Mama [A] couldn't hold me [D] anymore.
_ I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
No one [Bm] could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me to blame
[A] cause [D] Mama tried. _ _ _ _
_ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [Dm] _ _
_ [D] _ _ _ Dear old Daddy, rest [G] his soul, left [D] my Mama heavy [G] load.
She [D] tried so very hard to fill [A] his shoes.
Working [D] hours without [G] rest, [D] wanted me to have [G] the best.
She [D] tried to raise [A] me right but I [D] refused.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
[Bm] No one could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me [A] to blame
cause Mama [D] tried. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ The first thing I remember [G] knowing was [D] a lonesome whistle [G] blowing
and [D] a youngin's dream of growing up to [A] ride.
On [D] a freight train leaving [G] town, [D] not knowing where [G] I'm bound,
and no [D] one could change my [A] mind but Mama [D] tried.
_ One and only rebel [G] child from [D] a family meek and [G] mild,
my [D] Mama seemed to know what lay [A] in store.
Despite [D] all my Sunday [G] learning, for [D] it's the bad I kept [G] on turning
[D] till Mama [A] couldn't hold me [D] anymore.
_ I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
No one [Bm] could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me to blame
[A] cause [D] Mama tried. _ _ _ _
_ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [Dm] _ _
_ [D] _ _ _ Dear old Daddy, rest [G] his soul, left [D] my Mama heavy [G] load.
She [D] tried so very hard to fill [A] his shoes.
Working [D] hours without [G] rest, [D] wanted me to have [G] the best.
She [D] tried to raise [A] me right but I [D] refused.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing [G] life without [D] parole.
[Bm] No one could steer me right but Mama [A] tried.
Mama tried, Mama [D] tried to raise me better,
[G] but her pleading I [D] denied, that leaves only me [A] to blame
cause Mama [D] tried. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _