Merle Haggard - Mama tried

^DThe first thing I remember ^Gknow-in' was a ^Dlonesome whist-le ^Gblow-in, And a ^Dyoung-on's dream of ^Ggrow-in up to ^Aride, On a ^Dfreight train leav-in ^Gtown, not ^Dknow-in where I'm ^Gbound, And no ^Done could change my ^Amind, but Ma-ma ^Dtried.

^DOne and on-ly reb-el ^Gchild, From a ^Dfam-ily meek and ^Gmild, My ^Dma-ma seemed to ^Gknow what lay in ^Astore, Spite a^Dll my Sun-day ^Glearn-in' towards the ^Dbad I kept on ^Gturn-in, Til ^DMa-ma could-n't ^Ahold me an-y-^Dmore.

^DAnd I turned twenty-one in pris-on do-in ^Glife with-out pa-^Drole, ^GNo one could steer ^Dme right but Ma-^Ama tried, Mama tried. Ma-ma ^Dtried to raise me bet-ter, but her ^Gplead-ing I ^Dde-nied, That leaves only me to ^Ablame, cause Ma-ma ^Dtried.

^DDear ol' Dad-dy, rest his ^Gsoul, left my ^Dmom a heav-y ^Gload, She ^Dtried so very ^Ghard to fill his ^Ashoes, Work-in ^Dhou-rs with-out ^Grest, Want-ed ^Dme to have the ^Gbest, She ^Dtried to raise me ^Aright but I re-^Dfused

^DAnd I turned twenty-one in prison do-in ^Glife with-out pa-^Drole, No ^Gone could steer me ^Dright but Ma-ma ^Atried, Mama tried. Ma-ma ^Dtried to raise me bet-ter, but her ^Gplead-ing I ^Dde-nied, That leaves only me to ^Ablame cause Ma-ma tried..