Mama Tried
intermediate
Mama Tried
Classic Country
Jerry Garcia
The Grass app includes adjustable backing tracks with bass, guitar, and mandolin — a built-in chromatic tuner — a metronome with count-in — chord charts in any key — lyrics with chorus highlighting — demo videos — jam-along practice recordings — shareable setlists — and a finder for 700+ bluegrass jam circles near you. Free on iOS and Android.
Jam Along
Chord Chart
A x2
DD
GG
DD
GG
DD
DD
A7A7
A7A7
DD
GG
DD
GG
DD
A7A7
DD
DD
B x2
DD
DD
GG
DD
BmBm
BmBm
AA
AA
DD
DD
GG
DD
DD
A7A7
DD
DD
Chords used:
A
A7
Bm
D
G
Lyrics
First thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowing
And a young ones dream of growing up to ride
On a freight train leaving town not knowing where I'm bound
No one could steer me right but mama tried.
One and only rebel child from a family meek and mild
My mama seemed to know what lay in store
In spite of all my Sunday learning towards the bad I kept on turning
Til mama couldn't hold me anymore.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole
No one could steer me right but mama tried mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied
That leaves only me to blame cause mama tried.
My dear old daddy rest his soul left my mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Working hours without rest wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right but I refusedDemo Videos
About This Song
Mama Tried is a Merle Haggard classic from 1968 that became a bluegrass standard after the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia recorded it with Old & In the Way in 1973. The song's autobiographical story of youthful rebellion resonated deeply with the counterculture crowd and helped bridge country and bluegrass audiences.