Mama Tried

by Merle Haggard

Key: D

Verse:

The first thing DI remember Gknowing Was a Dlonesome whistle Gblowing And a Dyoung one's dream of growing up to A7ride On a Dfreight train leaving Gtown Not Dknowing where I'm Gbound And no Done could change my A7mind but Mama Dtried

Verse:

One and Donly rebel Gchild From a Dfamily meek and Gmild My Dmama seemed to know what lay in A7store Depite Dall my Sunday Glearning Towards the Dbad I kept on Gturning Til DMama couldn't A7hold me anyDmore

Chorus:

And I turned Dtwenty-one in prison doing Glife without parDole No Bmone could steer me right but Mama Atried Mama tried Mama Dtried to raise me better but her Gpleading I denDied That leaves Donly me to A7blame cause Mama Dtried

Solo:

Verse:

Dear old DDaddy rest his Gsoul Left my Dmom a heavy Gload She Dtried so very hard to fill his A7shoes Working Dhours without Grest Wanted Dme to have the Gbest She Dtried to raise me A7right but I reDfused

Chorus:

And I turned Dtwenty-one in prison doing Glife without parDole No Bmone could steer me right but Mama Atried Mama tried Mama Dtried to raise me better but her Gpleading I denDied That leaves Donly me to A7blame cause Mama Dtried