A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
<< Back to Merle Haggard Song List
Version 1 Version 2[Intro] D e|-----------------------------------|--pb12(13)-----------------------| B|-----10-----10-----8-----7-----7---|-----------13--pb5(6)---/3--/3---| G|---7------7------7-----7-----7---7-|---------------------5--/2--/2---| D|-0------0------0-----0-----0-------|-------------------------0---0---| A|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------| [Verse 1] D G D G The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowin' D A7 And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride D G D G On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound D A7 D And no one could change my mind, but Mama tried [Verse 2] D G D G One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild D A7 My Mama seemed to know what lay in store D G D G 'Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin' D A7 D 'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore [Chorus] D G D And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole Bm 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 [Guitar Solo] D G e|--pb12(13)----------------------------| B|-----------13--pb5(6)-------3---3-5-3-| G|---------------------5--2/4---4-------| D|--------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------| D A7 D e|---------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------pb5(6)r---| G|-------------------------------------------5-| D|---0-0-3-0-0-5-0-0-6-5-3-0-3-5---0-----------| A|-4-------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------| [Verse 3] D G D G Dear old Daddy, rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load D A7 She tried so very hard to fill his shoes D G D G Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best D A7 D She tried to raise me right, but I refused [Chorus] D G D And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole Bm 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 [Outro] D e|-----------------------------------|--pb12(13)-----------------------| B|-----10-----10-----8-----7-----7---|-----------13--pb5(6)---/3--/3---| G|---7------7------7-----7-----7---7-|---------------------5--/2--/2---| D|-0------0------0-----0-----0-------|-------------------------0---0---| A|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------| ************************** | pb Pre-bend | r Release | / Slide up **************************