Merle Haggard – Mama Tried (Guitar Tab)

Versions (6)

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Chords

[Intro]
(acoustic)
e|------5-----5-----3-----2-----2---|
B|----------------------------------|
G|----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---2-|
D|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|

[Lick 1]
(electric)
e|--pb14r12---------------------------|
B|----------13------------------------|
G|----------------pb7r5-------2--2----|
D|----------------------5-----0--0----|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
[Verse 1] D G D G First thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin' D G A7 And a young-un's dream of growing up to ride D G D G On a freight train leaving town, not knowing where I'm bound D A7 D And no one could change my mind, but Mama tried One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild Mama seemed to know what lay in store 'Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin' 'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore [Chorus] D G D And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole Bm A 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 [Solo]
e|--pb14r12-----------------------------------|
B|----------13-----pb7r5-----------3---3-5-3--|
G|-----------------------5-----3/5---5--------|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------pb7r5----|
G|--------------------------------------------5--|
D|------0-3-0-0-5-0-0-6-5-3-0-3-5-0--------------|
A|--0-3------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
[Verse 2] Dear old Daddy rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load She tried so very hard to fill his shoes Working hours without rest, she wanted me to have the best She tried to raise me right, but I refused [Chorus] D G D And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole Bm A 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] The end of the song is the same as the intro and lick 1. ************************************ | pb Pre-bend to indicated pitch | r Release bend | / Slide up ************************************