Mama Tried by Grateful Dead
Key: DD | Capo: 0fr |  Left-Handed 

    


(Intro) D A D
                     D                     G                  D                           G
The first thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin',
           D                                                  A
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                                 A                       D
no one could change my mind but Mama tried.
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One and only Rebel child from a fam'ly meek and mild,
         D                                                      A
my Mama seemed to know what lay in store,
          D                     G                       D                   G
'spite all my Sunday learnin' with the bad I kept on turnin',
      D                      A                  D
'til mama couldn't hold me anymore.
                       D                                     G                    D
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' 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,
                                       A                               D
that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried.
(Intro) D A D
             D                       G                 D                   G
Dear ole' daddy, rest his soul left my mom a heavy load,
        D                                          A
she tried so very hard to fill his shoes,
              D                   G                 D                       G
workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best,
         D                        A                 D
she tried to raise me right but I refused.
                       D                                     G                    D
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' 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,
                                       A                               D
that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried.
                     D                A                               D
That leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried.