(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.

         D          G            D              G
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.