Tell Mama chords by Savoy Brown

Chords with 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 augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D MajorD ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _

E MajorE ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  0:26

< begin riff which repeats throughout song >
  A augmentedA  /  /  /   /  /  /  /   /  /  /  /   /  /  /  /
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
BB|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
G+G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
D MajorD|------------2------|-------------------|------------2------|-------------------|----
A augmentedA|-0----2-0-4--------|-0----2-0-4-3-2-1--|-0----2-0-4--------|-0----2-0-4-3-2-1--|-0--
E MajorE|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----
                                      0:32

Verse 1
      A augmentedA
I quit my job, ain't got no money,
        D MajorD        A augmentedA
Seems I have to leave this town,

Packed my bag, run to the station,
            D MajorD       A augmentedA ]
Board the train that's eastward bound.  1:04

Chorus
   D MajorD              A augmentedA
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
      E MajorE
Sometimes a man just feels,
           A augmentedA
He's got to make it alone.
   D MajorD            A augmentedA
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
       E MajorE
Because this life I lead,
               A augmentedA
has got me sick through and through.  1:33

Verse 2

Nothing to do, that's why I have to go,
        D MajorD      A augmentedA
Seems no use in hangin' round.

I can't stop now, the ticket's in my hand,
            D MajorD       A augmentedA ]
Board the train that's eastward bound.    2:04

Chorus
   D MajorD              A augmentedA
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
      E MajorE
Sometimes a man just feels,
           A augmentedA
He's got to make it alone.
   D MajorD            A augmentedA
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
       E MajorE
Because this life I lead,
               A augmentedA
has got me sick through and through.  2:33

Instrumental  (chords similar to chorus)
D MajorD ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E MajorE ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
                                 woooooo
D MajorD ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E MajorE ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D MajorD ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E MajorE ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A augmentedA ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3:16

Verse 1, partial (repeated)
     A augmentedA
I quit my job, ain't got no money,
 A augmentedA        D MajorD       A augmentedA ]
Seems I have to leave this town.   3:29

Instrumental < no chords >

< repetitive low riff throughout >
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
BB|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
G+G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D MajorD|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
A augmentedA|-3-2-----0---------|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|
E MajorE|-----3-2-------0-2-|-3-----------------|-2------------1--0-|-------------------|

< then later >
e|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
BB|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
G+G|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
D MajorD|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
A augmentedA|-------------------|-------------------|-0-----------------|
E MajorE|-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 MajorD              A augmentedA
Tell Mama, and all the folks back home,
      E MajorE
Sometimes a man just feels,
           A augmentedA
He's got to make it alone.
   D MajorD            A augmentedA
Tell Mama, why I'm leaving so soon,
       E MajorE
Because this life I lead,
               A augmentedA
has got me sick through and through.  4:43

< riff to end, 2nd time through at last A augmentedA chord >
              e|-------------------|-------|
              BB|-------------------|-------|
              G+G|-------------------|-------|
              D MajorD|-------------------|-------|
              A augmentedA|-3---0-3-0-----3-0-|---0---|
              E MajorE|-----------3-0-----|-3-----|  5:15