Mama Tried
By Jack Ingram
Written By Merle Haggard

Capo 3

                A          D             A                D
The first thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin'
      A                                E
And a youngun's dream of growin' up to ride
     A                     D         A                 D 
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound
   A                   E             A    
No one could change my mind but Mama tried


One and only rebel child from a fam'ly meek and mild 
My mama seemed to know what lay in store
In spite all my Sunday learnin' towards the bad I kept on turnin'
'Til Mama could not hold me anymore


Chorus:
             A                          D              A
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
   F#m                               E
No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
     A                                 D
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied 
                A          E                A
And that leaves only me to blame cause Mama tried 


Dear ole' Daddy, rest his soul, left my mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Workin' hours without rest, she wanted me to have the best 
She tried to raise me right but I refused


Chorus

And that leaves only me to blamce cause mama tried