G                            C               G                  C  
The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowing 
       G                    C              D7  
And a youngun's dream of growing up to ride 
      G                       C           G                C  
On a freight train leaving town  not knowing where I'm bound 
     G                        D7              G  
And no one could change my mind but Mama Tried 
  
                    C              G               C  
One and only Rebel child from a family meek and mild 
    G                C                  D7  
My mama seemed to know what lay in store 
       G               C                   G             C  
Spite all my Sunday learning with the bad I kept on turning 
      G               D7         G  
Till mama couldn't hold me anymore 
  
Chorus:
                                         C              G  
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole 
                                      D7  
No one could steer me right but Mama Tried  Mama Tried 
      G                                  C             G  
Mama Tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied 
                            D7                 G  
And that leaves only me to blame cause Mama Tried 
  
                           C              G           C  
Dear ole' daddy  rest his soul left my mom a heavy load 
     G               C                  D7  
She tried so very hard to feel his shoes 
         G               C              G            C  
Working hours without rest  wanted me to have the best 
     G                   D7              G  
She tried to raise me right but I refused 
  
Repeat chorus 

 #----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: TPLBA@aol.com
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 94 17:36:16 EDT
Subject: Haggard, Merle; Grateful Dead; Mama Tried.crd

Mama Tried
Merle Haggard

            D          G             D                G
First thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin'
      D                   G             A7
And a young-on's dream of growing up to ride
     D                     G         D                 G
On a freight train leaving town, not knowing where I'm bound
       D                   A7             D
And no one could change my mind, but Mama tried

One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild
Mama seemed to know what lay in store
'Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin'
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore

CHORUS:
D                                       G              D
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
   G                  D                           A7
No one could steer me right, but Mama tried, Mama tried
     D                                 G             D
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied,
                       A7                 D
that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried

Dear old Daddy rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Working hours without rest, she wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right, but I refused

CHORUS