[Intro]
   D
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[Strophe]
                D          G             D                G 
The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowin' 
      D                                 A7 
And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride 
     D                     G         D                 G 
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound 
       D                   A7             D 
And no one could change my mind, but Mama tried
[Strophe]
        D          G             D               G 
One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild 
    D                               A7 
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store 
          D             G                    D             G 
'Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin' 
     D             A7         D 
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore
[Refrain]
              D                         G               D 
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole 
   Bm                                 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, 
                       A7                 D 
that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried
[Solo]
    D                     G
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   D               A7              D
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[Strophe]
          D               G               D            G 
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load 
      D                            A7 
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes 
          D           G           D               G 
Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best 
    D                 A7             D 
She tried to raise me right, but I refused
[Refrain]
              D                         G               D 
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole 
   Bm                                 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, 
                       A7                 D 
that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried
[Tab]
   D
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