Tell Mama chords by Savoy Brown

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