MAMA TRIED
As recorded by Conway Twitty
(From the 1968 Album NEXT IN LINE)



[Intro]
       


[Verse 1]
             
First thing I 

             
remember knowi

             
n' was a lones

            
ome whistle bl

owin'
             
And the younge

              
st dream of gr

            
owin' up to ri

de
             
On a freight t

             
rain leaving t

             
own not knowin

            
g where I'm bo

und
             
And no one cou

             
ld change my m

              
ind, but mama 


tried


[Verse 2]
             
One and only r

             
ebel child for

             
 my family mee

      
k and mild
             
My mama seemed

              
 to know what 

       
lay in store
             
Inspite of all

           
 my Sunday lea

rnin'
             
Toward the bad

           
 I kept on tur

nin'
             
Till mama coul

             
dn't hold me a

  
nymore


[Chorus]
             
I turned twent

              
y one in priso

             
n doing life w

         
ithout parole
            
No one could s

              
teer me right,

          
 but mama trie

d, mama tried
             
Mama tried to 

              
raise me bette

             
r but her plea

         
ding I denied
              
That leaves on

             
ly me to blame

              
, 'cause mama 

      
tried


[Guitar Solo]
   


[Verse 3]
             
Dear old daddy

             
, rest his sou

             
l, left my mam

        
a heavy load
             
She tried so v

              
ery hard to fi

       
ll his shoes
             
Workin' hours 

             
without rest, 

             
wanted me to h

        
ave the best
             
She tried to r

             
aise me right 

        
but I refused


[Chorus]
             
I turned twent

              
y one in priso

             
n doing life w

         
ithout parole
            
No one could s

              
teer me right,

          
 but mama trie

d, mama tried
             
Mama tried to 

              
raise me bette

             
r but her plea

         
ding I denied
              
That leaves on

             
ly me to blame

              
, 'cause mama 


tried


[Outro]