Mama Tried
Merle HaggardVersions2
90
Chords in this song
Strum
D-DU-UDU
The first thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin',
And a youngun's dream of growin' up to ride,
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound.
And no one could change my mind but Momma Tried.
One and only Rebel child from a fam'ly meek and mild
My momma seemed to to know what lay in store,
'Spite all my Sunday learnin' towards the bad I kept on turnin',
'Til momma couldn't hold me anymore.
N.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole,
No one could steer me right but Mamma Tried, Momma Tried
Momma Tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied
And that leaves only me to blame, cause Momma Tried
Dear ole' daddy, rest his soul left my mom a heavy load,
She tried so very hard to feel his shoes,
Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right but I refused.
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Readable chord sheet for Mama Tried by Merle Haggard
T[D]he first thing I remember kn[G]owin' was a lon[D]esome whistle blow[G]in', A[D]nd a youngun's dream[G] of growin' up [A7]to ride, O[D]n a freight train leavi[G]n' town, no[D]t knowin' where I'm[G] bound. A[D]nd no one could change m[A7]y mind but Momma[D] Tried. O[D]ne and only Rebel ch[G]ild from a fam[D]'ly meek and mild[G] M[D]y momma seemed to to[G] know what lay in [A7]store, '[D]Spite all my Su[G]nday learnin' towards [D]the bad I kept [G]on turnin', '[D]Til momma couldn[A7]'t hold me a[D]nymore. N. [C] A[D]nd I turned twenty-one in pr[G]ison doin' life wi[D]thout parole, N[Bm]o one could steer me right but Mamma[A7] Tried, Momma Tried M[D]omma Tried to raise me better but [G]her pleading I[D] denied A[A7]nd that leaves only me to blame[D], cause Momma Tried D[D]ear ole' daddy, rest his so[G]ul left my mom[D] a heavy load[G], S[D]he tried so ver[G]y hard to feel his[A7] shoes, W[D]orkin' hours wi[G]thout rest, wa[D]nted me to have [G]the best S[D]he tried to raise m[G]e right but I r[A7]efused.