Merle Haggard – Mama Tried (Ukulele)

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Chords

[Verse 1]
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.
[Verse 2]
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]
             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

                D          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 fill 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]
             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

                D          A7                 D
And that leaves only me to blame, cause Momma Tried