Mama tried    (midi)

 

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1. The first thing I remember knowin' was a lonesome whistle blowin',
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    and a youngun's dream of growin' up to ride,
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    on a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound,
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    no one could change my mind but Mama tried.
 
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2. One and only Rebel child from a fam'ly meek and mild,
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    my Mama seemed to know what lay in store,
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    'spite all my Sunday learnin' with the bad I kept on turnin',
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    'til mama couldn't hold me anymore.
 
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And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole,
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no one could steer me right  but Mama tried, Mama tried.
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Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied,
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that leaves only me to blame, cause Mama tried.
 
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3. Dear ole' daddy, rest his soul left my mom a heavy load,
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    she tried so very hard to fill his shoes,
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   workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best,
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    she tried to raise me right but I refused.
 
+ CHORUS      (Merle Haggard)