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Tell Mama

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Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/64

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 64Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Bluesy tune from the '71 "Street Corner Talking" album.  Times shown are 
[Intro]
A A D A
E A
[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]
I quit my jAob, ain't got no money,
Seems I have to Dleave this town,A  
Packed my bag, run to the station,
                                     D   A]
Board the train that's eastward bound.    1:04
[Chorus]
Tell MDama, and all the folks back Ahome,
Sometimes a Eman just feels,
He's got to make it alAone.
Tell DMama, why I'm leaving so Asoon,
Because this Elife I lead,
has got me sick through and tAhrough.   1:33
[Verse 2]             
Nothing to do, that's why I have to go,
Seems no use in Dhangin' roundA.
I can't stop now, the ticket's in my hand,
                                     D   A]
Board the train that's eastward bound.       2:04
[Chorus]
Tell MDama, and all the folks back Ahome,
Sometimes a Eman just feels,
He's got to make it alAone.
Tell DMama, why I'm leaving so Asoon,
Because this lEife I lead,
has got me sick through and tAhrough.   2:33
[Instrumental]   
(chords similar to chorus)
D A E A
D A E A
D A E A
[Verse 1]
[partial (repeated)
I quit my Ajob, ain't got no money,
                A                D   A]
Seems I have to leave this town.      3:29
[Instrumental]
[repetitive low riff throughout]
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
B|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
A|-3-2-----0---------|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|
E|-----3-2-------0-2-|-3-----------------|-2------------1--0-|-------------------|
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] 
[Chorus](X2)
Tell MDama, and all the folks back Ahome,
Sometimes a Eman just feels,
He's got to make it alAone.
Tell DMama, why I'm leaving so Asoon,
Because this lEife I lead,
has got me sick through and tAhrough.   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-----|

All chords in this song (3)

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Tell Mama

by Savoy Brown

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bluesy tune from the '71 "Street Corner Talking" album. Times shown are

[Intro]

A A D A

E A

[begin riff which repeats throughout song]

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

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]

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,

Sometimes a man just feels,

He's got to make it alone.

D A

Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,

Because this life I lead,

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,

Sometimes a man just feels,

He's got to make it alone.

D A

Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,

Because this life I lead,

has got me sick through and through. 2:33

[Instrumental]

(chords similar to chorus)

D A E A

[Verse 1]

[partial (repeated)

I quit my job, ain't got no money,

A D A

]

Seems I have to leave this town. 3:29

[Instrumental]

[repetitive low riff throughout]

e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|

B|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|

G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|

D|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|

A|-3-2-----0---------|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|

E|-----3-2-------0-2-|-3-----------------|-2------------1--0-|-------------------|

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]

[Chorus](X2)

D A

Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,

Sometimes a man just feels,

He's got to make it alone.

D A

Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,

Because this life I lead,

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-----|

About Tell Mama Chords by Savoy Brown

Learn how to play Tell Mama by Savoy Brown with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tell Mama chords”, “Tell Mama guitar chords”, or “Savoy Brown Tell Mama chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Tell Mama chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tell Mama lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E, B, G.

FAQ — Tell Mama by Savoy Brown

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What key is "Tell Mama" in?

The chords for "Tell Mama" show the original chord names (including A, D, E, B, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.