Guitar Tabs and Lyrics For Merle Haggard - Mama Tried

D                          G             D                G
The first thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin',
      D                  G             A7
And a youngun'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 Momma Tried.
D                  G            D               G
One and only Rebel child from a fam'ly meek and mild
   D                  G                A7
My momma seemed to to know what lay in store,
       D             G                    D             G
'Spite all my Sunday learnin' towards the bad I kept on turnin',
     D              A7         D   
'Til momma couldn't hold me anymore.

Chorus

N.C.         D                          G                D       
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole,
   Bm                                 A7                                
No one could steer me right but Mamma Tried, Momma Tried
      D                                G            D
Momma Tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied
                A7                            D
And that leaves only me to blame, cause Momma Tried

Verse 3:
D                         G            D           G
Dear ole' daddy, rest his soul left my mom a heavy load,
    D             G                A7
She tried so very hard to feel his shoes,
        D             G            D              G
Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
    D                 G             A7
She tried to raise me right but I refused.

Chorus

Verse #1 & #2 D G D G D G A7 D G D G D A7 D Verse #3 D G D G D G A7 D G D G D G A7 Chorus D G D Bm A7 D G D A7 D

D

G

A7

Bm