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Mama Tried

Mel O'Joe

Intro	D

	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

	D	G	D	G
One and	only rebel	child, from a	family meek and	mild

	D	A7
My M	ama seemed to know what lay in s	tore

	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 any	more

	D	G	D
And I turned t	wenty-one in prison doin'	life without par	ole

	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 den	ied,

	A7	D
that leaves only me to	blame, 'cause Mama	tried

Guitar	Solo	D	G	D	A7	D

	D	G	D	G
Dear old D	addy, rest his s	oul, he left my	mom a heavy l	oad

	D	A7
She tr	ied so very hard to fill his	shoes

	D	G	D	G
Workin' ho	urs without	rest, wanted	me to have the	best

	D	A7	D
She	tried to raise me	right, but I re	fused

	D	G	D
And I turned t	wenty-one in prison doin'	life without par	ole

	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 den	ied,

	A7	D
that leaves only me to	blame, 'cause Mama	tried

Outro