Intro: E 

#1. 
E                          A 
The first thing I remember knowin' was a  
E                A             E 
lonesome whistle blowin' and a young'un's  
                       B 
dream of growing up to ride. 
     E                     A        E 
On a freight train leavin' town not knowin'  
          A         E 
where I'm bound and no one could change my  
B             E 
mind but Mama tried. 

#2. 
E                  A            E 
One and only rebel child from a family meek  
    A        E  
and mild, my Mama seemed to know what lay  
   B 
in store. 
            E             A 
In spite of all my Sunday learnin', towards  
    E            A            E 
the bad I kept a-turnin', til Mama couldn't  
B          E 
hold me anymore. 


[Refrão]
E                                       A 
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life  
        E 
without parole. 
   Dbm                               B 
No one could steer me right but Mama tried,  

Mama tried. 
     E                                A 
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading  
  E 
I denied. 
                       B                  E 
That leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried. 

#3. 
E                        A             E 
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul, left my Mom a  
      A 
heavy load. 
    E                              B 
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes. 
        E             A            E 
Working hours without rest, wanted me to have  
    A 
the best. 
    E                 B            E 
She tried to raise me right, but I refused. 


[Refrão]
E                                       A 
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life  
        E 
without parole. 
   Dbm                               B 
No one could steer me right but Mama tried,  

Mama tried. 
     E                                A 
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading  
  E 
I denied. 
                       B                  E 
That leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried. 

OUTRO: E