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20 CLASSIC SONGS your friends will love

Beatles - Petty - Johnny Cash - Eagles - John Denver - Dylan

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    Mama Tried

    Merle Haggard

     

    Intro:  0 (4 measures)

     

                         0                       5

    The first thing I remember knowing,

               0                         5

    Was a lonesome whistle blowing,

               0                                                

    And a young un's dream of growing up to

      7

    ride

     

                 0                        5

    On a freight train leaving town,

             0                          5

    Not knowing where I'm bound,

         0                                7

    No one could change my mind but Mama

     0

    tried.

     

                 0                 5

    One and only rebel child,

                         0                       5

    From a family, meek and mild:

           0                                                

    My Mama seemed to know what lay in

       7

    store.

     

                         0                       5

    Despite all my Sunday learning,

                         0                       5

    Towards the bad, I kept on turning.

            0                   7

    'Til Mama couldn't hold me

            0

    anymore.

     

    Chorus:

                          0

    And I turned twenty-one in prison doing

    5                   0

    life without parole.

          9

    No one could steer me right but Mama

    7

    tried, Mama tried, Mama

      0

    tried to raise me better, but her

      7                 0

    pleading, I denied.  That leaves

    0                7

    only me to blame 'cause Mama

     0

    tried.

     

                    0                     5

    Dear old Daddy, rest his soul,

                   0                    5

    Left my Mom a heavy load;

             0                                

    She tried so very hard to fill his

       7

    shoes.

     

                    0                     5

    Working hours without rest,

                   0                       5

    Wanted me to have the best.

             0                           7

    She tried to raise me right but I

        0

    refused.

     

    Chorus


    This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.