Mama Tried Chords by Merle Haggard

[Start]

[Verse]
D D7 D                                   
■ ■  ■ The first thing I remember knowin'
               G              
Was a lonesome whistle blowin'
D                                    A7     
And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
D                  G           
On a freight train leavin' town
D                 G        
Not knowin' where I'm bound
    D                   A7          D         
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried
    D                   
One and only rebel child
                   G       
From a family meek and mild
D                           A7          
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
        D        G              
Despite ■ all my Sunday learnin'
D                      G         
Towards the bad I kept on turnin'
D                                 
'til Mama couldn't hold me anymore


[Chorus]
                                 G                  D     
And I turned twentyone in prison doin' life without parole
Bm7    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
     D                                        
That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried
G D7 D D7
■ ■  ■ ■ 


[Verse]
D                   D7      
Dear old Daddy rest his soul
D                       
Left my Mom a heavy load
                          A7            
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
D                         
Workin' hours without rest
D                         
Wanted me to have the best
                   A7             D      
She tried to raise me right but I refused


[Chorus]
                                 G          D             
And I turned twentyone in prison doin' life without parole
Bm7    Bm                       A                    
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]