| F | F7 | F7 | C |
| C | A7 | D7 G7 | C |
| C | G7 | C7 | G7 |
(Brassband)

[Verse 1]
    C                               C7
For weary weeks I waited and hoping for the best
    F                                 C         G7      C
But blues will make me ramble and the rails are leading west
C7   F             F7                         C
 I'm feeling awful lonesome, pleasure I can't find
    C7               A7            D7        G7        C7
I'm leaving you Mean Mama, just to worry you off o' my mind

[Break]
| C F | F | F | C |
| C | G7 | G7 | C |
| C | C |
(yodel)

[Verse 2]
              C7
That old gang kindly whispers, just fall in line and smile
F7                        C
Mean Mama haunts me and I crave the peace of miles
  F                    F7                       C7
I don't know where I'm going, I'm feeling kinda quare
C              C7      A7             D7       G7      C7
I've been from several places and I'm going to be from here

[Break]
| C7 G7 | C | C | C7 |
| C7 | F7 | F7 | F C |
| C | F7 | F7 | F7 |
| C7 | C | A7 | D7 G7 | C7 G7 |
(brassband)

[Verse 3]
      C                                           C7
Seems there's something missing, there's feelings in my breast
  F                           C                     C7
I crave to cover distance, so Mean Mama give me wrest
  F              F7                              C7
I hear the rails a-singing, the sky is clear and blue
C             C7        A7             D7          G7      C7
 I'm going to leave you mama, when the train comes rolling through

[Break]
| F7 | F7 | F7 | C7 |
| C | A7 | D7 G7 | C7 |
(honky tonk piano)

[Verse 4]
C                          C7
No money in my pocket, I'm roving around so flat
    F7                F     C
And soon I'll be strolling, down that railroad track
C7   F               F7                  C
 And when I'm miles away, riding all the while
                       A7      D7       G7      C
I'll think of you Mean Mama, I think of you and smile

[Outro]
| G7 | G7 | C7 | C |
(yodel)