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
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/savoy_brown/tell_mama_crd_ver_2.html ]
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
