| From: Ken Keefover |
| Subject: Momma Tried by Merle Haggard |
| Momma Tried |
| Written & performed by Merle Haggard |
| c1968 Tree Publishing Co., Inc. |
| D | G | D | G |
| The first thing I remember | knowin’ was a | lonesome whistle | blowin’, |
| D | G | A7 | |
| 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 | A7 | D | |
| And | no one could change my | mind but Momma | Tried. |
| D | G | D | G |
| One and only Rebel | child from a | fam’ly meek and | mild |
| D | G | A7 | |
| My | momma seemed to to | know what lay in | store, |
| D | G | D | G | |
| ’Spite | all my Sunday | learnin’ towards the | bad I kept on | turnin’, |
| D | A7 | D | |
| ’Til | momma couldn’t | hold me | anymore. |
| N.C. | D | G | D |
| And I turned | twenty-one in prison doin’ | life without | parole, |
| Bm | A7 | |
| No | one could steer me right but Mamma | Tried, Momma Tried |
| D | G | D | |
| Momma | Tried to raise me better but her | pleading I | denied |
| A7 | D | |
| And that leaves | only me to blame, cause Momma | Tried |
| D | G | D | G |
| Dear ole’ daddy, rest his | soul left my | mom a heavy | load, |
| D | G | A7 | |
| She | tried so very | hard to feel his | shoes, |
| D | G | D | G | |
| Workin’ | hours without | rest, wanted | me to have the | best |
| D | G | A7 | |
| She | tried to raise me | right but I | refused. |
| Source: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/merle_haggard/momma_tried_crd.htm |