[Intro]
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[Verse 1]
                G          C             G                C
The first thing I remember knowing was a lonesome whistle blowin'
      G                   /             D7  /
And a young un's dream of growin' up to ride
     G                     C         G                 C
On a freight train leavin' town, not knowin' where I'm bound
       G                   D7             G
And no one could change my mind, but Mama tried
 
[Verse 2]
        G          C             G               C
One and only rebel child, from a family meek and mild
    G                       /       D7  /
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
          G             C                    G             C
'Spite of all my Sunday learnin', toward the bad I kept on turnin'
     G             D7         G
'Til Mama couldn't hold me anymore
 
[Chorus]
                    G            /             C               G
        And I turned twenty-one in prison doin' life without parole
        Em                 /               D7          /
        No one could steer me right, but Mama tried, Mama tried
            G                 /               C             G
        Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied,
                    /          D7                 G
        that leaves only me to blame, 'cause Mama tried
 
[Guitar Solo]
    G                     C
[Verse 3]
          G               C               G            C
Dear old Daddy, rest his soul, he left my mom a heavy load
      G           /                 D7   /
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
          G           C           G               C
Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
    G                 D7             G
She tried to raise me right, but I refused
 
[Chorus]

[Outro]
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