Tell Mama Chords & Lyrics by Savoy Brown
Tell Mama
guitar chords lyrics
Nice bluesy tune from the '71 "Street Corner Talking" album. Times shown are
elapsed time from the start. Tabbed by Marty Lurvey
Intro
A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
E ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0:26
< begin riff which repeats throughout song >
A / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
B|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
D|------------2------|-------------------|------------2------|-------------------|----
A|-0----2-0-4--------|-0----2-0-4-3-2-1--|-0----2-0-4--------|-0----2-0-4-3-2-1--|-0--
E|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
0:32
Verse 1
A
I quit my job, ain't got no money,
D A
Seems I have to leave this town,
Packed my bag, run to the station,
D A ]
Board the train that's eastward bound. 1:04
Chorus
D A
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
E
Sometimes a man just feels,
A
He's got to make it alone.
D A
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
E
Because this life I lead,
A
has got me sick through and through. 1:33
Verse 2
Nothing to do, that's why I have to go,
D A
Seems no use in hangin' round.
I can't stop now, the ticket's in my hand,
D A ]
Board the train that's eastward bound. 2:04
Chorus
D A
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
E
Sometimes a man just feels,
A
He's got to make it alone.
D A
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
E
Because this life I lead,
A
has got me sick through and through. 2:33
Instrumental (chords similar to chorus)
D ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
woooooo
D ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3:16
Verse 1, partial (repeated)
A
I quit my job, ain't got no money,
A D A ]
Seems I have to leave this town. 3:29
Instrumental < no chords >
< repetitive low riff throughout >
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
B|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
A|-3-2-----0---------|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|
E|-----3-2-------0-2-|-3-----------------|-2------------1--0-|-------------------|
< then later >
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
B|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
A|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|
E|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3---|-2-2-2-2-1-1-0-0---|-------------------|
< then drums only to conclude > 4:14
Chorus X2
D A
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
E
Sometimes a man just feels,
A
He's got to make it alone.
D A
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
E
Because this life I lead,
A
has got me sick through and through. 4:43
< riff to end, 2nd time through at last A chord >
e|-------------------|-------|
B|-------------------|-------|
G|-------------------|-------|
D|-------------------|-------|
A|-3---0-3-0-----3-0-|---0---|
E|-----------3-0-----|-3-----| 5:15
