TAB by Song : 19398
Tab List Area
1 Pages 1 Results
Only Mama Knows by Paul Mccartney
Only Mama Knows
tuning: E a d g b e
e|-----------------------------------|
b|------------------10---------------|
g|--------------7-9----12---9p7-7h9--|
d|------------9----------------------|
a|------10-12------------------------|
E|--12-------------------------------|
Well I was found in the transit lounge
Of a dirty airport town
What was I doing on the road to ruin
Well my mama laid me down
My mama laid me down
Round my hand was a plastic band
With a picture of my face
I was crying left to die
This God forsaken place
This God forsaken place
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I'm passing through, I'm on my way
I'm on the road, no ETA.
I'm passing through, no fixed abode
And that is why I need to try
To hold on. I've gotta hold on, gotta hold on
Was it planned as a one night stand
Or did she live in disgrace
Well I never will I ever see my father's face see
my father's face
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I've gotta hold on. I've gotta hold on.
You've gotta hold on
------------------
version 2
Chords used in this song :
Em
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| Em/C
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|---|-x-|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| Em/B
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A -x-|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| D
e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
F#m
e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|-x-|---|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|-x-|---|
A ---|---|---|-x-|---|
E ---|-x-|---|---|---| A
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|-x-|---|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| E
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G -x-|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| B
e ---|-o-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|-x-|---|
G ---|---|---|-x-|---|
D ---|---|---|-x-|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|-o-|---|---|---|
D#m
e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|-x-|---|
G ---|---|-x-|---|---|
D ---|---|---|-x-|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| C#m
4 fr.
e -x-|---|---|---|---|
B ---|-x-|---|---|---|
G ---|---|-x-|---|---|
D ---|---|-x-|---|---|
A -x-|---|---|---|---|
E -o-|---|---|---|---| Em7
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-o-|---|---|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---| Bm
e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|---|---|-x-|---|
D ---|---|---|-x-|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|-o-|---|---|---|
Em/C#
e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|-x-|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
Em Em
Em/C Em/B Em/C Em/C# (repeat x5)
Em
Em D Em D
Well I was found in the transit lounge of a dirty airport town
Em D Em F#m
What was I doing on the road to ruin, where my mama laid me down?
Em D
My mama laid me down
Em D Em D
Round my hand was a plastic band with a picture of my face
Em D Em F#m
I was crying, left to die in this godforsaken place
Em D A E
This godforsaken place
B D#m
Only mama knows
C#m Em B
Why she laid me down in this godforsaken town
D#m
She was running too
C#m
What she ran from who I always wondered
Em7
I never knew
Only mama knows
Only mama knows
Bm Em Bm Em
Bm Em Bm Em
Em (Bm)
I'm passing through, I'm on my way
Em (Bm)
On the road, no ETA
Em (Bm)
I'm passing through, no fixed abode
Em
And that is why
I need to try
Em
To hold on (to hold on)
Got to hold on
Em D Em D
Was it planned as a one-night stand, or did she leave in disgrace?
Em D Em F#m
Well I never, will I ever see my father's face?
Em D A E
See my father's face
B D#m
Only mama knows
C#m Em B
Why she laid me down in this godforsaken town
D#m
She was running too
C#m
What she ran from who I always wondered
Em7
I never knew
Only mama knows
Only mama knows
B D#m
Only mama knows
C#m Em B
Why she laid me down in this godforsaken town
D#m
She was running too
C#m
What she ran from who I always wondered
Em7
I never knew
Only mama knows
Only mama knows
Bm Em Bm Em
Bm Em Bm Em
Em
I've got to hold on
Got to hold on
Gotta hold on
Em/B Em/C Em/C#
Em/C Em/B Em/C Em/C#
Em/C Em
------------------
version 3
intro
0:46
-------------------------|
-------------10-8--------|
---------7-9------9p7-9--|
---5-7-9-----------------|
-7-----------------------|
-------------------------|
verse
0:51
Em - D - Em - D
Em - D - Em - F#- Em - D - D
Em - D - Em - D
Em - D - Em - F#- Em - D-A-E
chorus
1:29
B - D#m - C#m - Em
B - D#m - C#m - Em
bridge
1:45
Em7 for a while
Bm
-------------------------|
----------10-12----------|
---7-11-9---------7-11-9-| x2
-9--------------9--------|
-------------------------|
-------------------------|
Bm
----------|
----------|
---7-11-9-| x3
-9--------|
----------|
----------|
Bm
--------------------------|
--------------------------|
-12-11-9-7---12-11-11-9-7-|
--------------------------|
--------------------------|
--------------------------|
2:18 (Hold On part)
Em for awhile
Intro
-------------------------|
-------------10-8--------|
---------7-9------9p7-9--|
---5-7-9-----------------|
-7-----------------------|
-------------------------|
Verse
Em - D - Em - D
Em - D - Em - F#- Em - D-A-E
Chorus
B - D#m - C#m - Em
B - D#m - C#m - Em
Lil bit of the Bridge (Em7 part)
Chorus
Bridge
(Variations of the riffs in it over the "hold on" part)
Intro
End
Well I was found in the transit lounge
Of a dirty airport town
What was I doing on the road to ruin
Well my mama laid me down
My mama laid me down
Round my hand was a plastic band
With a picture of my face
I was crying left to die
This God forsaken place
This God forsaken place
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I'm passing through, I'm on my way
I'm on the road, no ETA.
I'm passing through, no fixed abode
And that is why I need to try
To hold on. I've gotta hold on, gotta hold on
Was it planned as a one night stand
Or did she live in disgrace
Well I never will I ever see my father's face see
my father's face
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I've gotta hold on. I've gotta hold on.
You've gotta hold on
------------------
version 4
Chords: Legend:
Em = 022000 h - hammer on
Bm = x24432 (barre) p - pull off
D = xx0232 / - slide up
F#m = 244222 (barre) \ - slide down
G = x200xx ( ) - play note instead of chord
A = x02220 n/c - no chord (aka: off)
E = 022100
B5 = x244xx
C#5 = x466xx (or play C#m)
D#5 = x688xx (or play D#m)
Em7 = 022030
Fm = 133111 (barre)
Chorus Walkup:
Em (c#) G A B5
e|---------------|------------------|
B|-------------2-|------------------|
G|---------0---2-|-4----------------|
D|-2-------0---2-|-4----------------|
A|-2---4---------|-2----------------|
E|-0-------------|------------------|
God for-sak-en town
Note:
McCartney seems to bobble the first line, singing what sounds like,
"I was found in a gendry lounge…"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Synth Strings Loop:
| Em . . Bm | Em . . Bm | Em . . Bm | Em . . Bm |
Intro:
Em Bm Em
e|------------------|------------------|
B|------------------|------------------|
G|------------------|-2--0-------------|
D|-------------0--2-|-------2p0-2------|
A|-------0--2-------|------------------|
E|-0--3-------------|------------------|
Verse 1:
|Em |D |Em |D |
. I was found in a transit lounge of a dirty airport town
|Em |D
. What was I doing on the . road to ruin?
|Em |F#m |Em |D | D |
Well, my mama laid me down, . . . . my mama laid me down
Verse 2:
|Em |D |Em |D |
. 'Round my hand was a plastic band with a picture of my face
|Em |D |Em |F#m |
. I was crying, . left to die in this God forsaken place
|Em |D A E B5 |
. God forsaken place . . .
Chorus:
|B5 |D#5 |C#5 |Em (c#) G A |B5
. Only mama knows why she laid me down in this God for-sa-ken town
|D#5 |C#5 |
She was running, too. What she ran from, though I always wondered,
|Em n/c |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |
. I never knew. Only mama knows, only mama knows
Interlude:
Em Em Em Em
e|-------2--------7-|-------2-------|-------2--------7-|-------2-------|
B|-0--3-----5--8----|-0--3-----5----|-0--3-----5--8----|-0--3-----5----|
G|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
D|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
A|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
E|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
Bridge:
|Em |Em |Em |Em |
. I'm passing through, I'm on my way . I'm on the road, no E.T.A.
|Em |Em |Em |Em |
. I'm passing through, no fixed abode . and that is why . . . .
|Em |Em |Em <> |
. I need to try . . . . to hold on
|<> |Em <> |<> |Em <> |<> |
. . . . I've gotta hold on . . . . I've got to hold on . . . .
Intro (Reprise):
Em Bm Em
e|------------------|------------------|
B|------------------|------------------|
G|------------------|-2--0-------------|
D|-------------0--2-|-------2p0-2------|
A|-------0--2-------|------------------|
E|-0--3-------------|------------------|
Verse 3:
|Em |D |Em |D |
. Was it planned as a one-night stand, or did she leave in disgrace?
|Em |D |Em |F#m F#m Fm |
. Well I've never, . will I ever . see my father's face? . . .
|Em |D A E B5 |
. See my father's face . . .
Chorus:
|B5 |D#5 |C#5 |Em (c#) G A |B5
. Only mama knows why she laid me down in this God for-sa-ken town
|D#5 |C#5 |
She was running, too. What she ran from, though I always wondered,
|Em n/c |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |
. I never knew. Only mama knows, only mama knows
Chorus:
|B5 |D#5 |C#5 |Em (c#) G A |B5
. Only mama knows why she laid me down in this God for-sa-ken town
|D#5 |C#5 |
She was running, too. What she ran from, though I always wondered,
|Em n/c |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |Em7 |
. I never knew. Only mama knows, only mama knows
Interlude (Reprise):
Em Em Em Em
e|-------2--------7-|-------2-------|-------2--------7-|-------2-------|
B|-0--3-----5--8----|-0--3-----5----|-0--3-----5--8----|-0--3-----5----|
G|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
D|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
A|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
E|------------------|---------------|------------------|---------------|
(only mama knows) (only mama knows)
Bridge (Reprise):
|Em |Em |Em |Em |
I've got to hold on . . . . I've got to hold on . . . .
(only mama knows) (only mama knows)
|Em |Em |
I've got to hold on . . . .
Outro:
Em Bm Em
e|------------------|------------------|
B|------------------|------------------|
G|------------------|-2--0-------------|
D|-------------0--2-|-------2p0-2------|
A|-------0--2-------|------------------|
E|-0--3-------------|------------------|
Synth Strings Loop:
| Em - - Bm | Em - - Bm | Em - - Bm | Em - - Bm |
Charted by Dexex
Note:
"DundeeShamrock" has posted a good alternative for the Intro lick, if
you'd prefer to play it high on the neck. I prefer to play it lower to get
the growl you hear in the recording. Here's his/her version:
e -----------------------------------------
b-----------------------------------------
g----------------------------12s14s12
d--------------------12--14-----------14p12h4
a ------10--12-12s14
E 10s12
------------------
version 5
Standard tuning
Violin Intro
( stuff below )x12
e|--7-2-|-3-0-3-0-3-0-7-2-|
b|------|-----------------|
g|------|-----------------|
d|------|-----------------|
a|------|-----------------|
e|------|-----------------|
Guitar Intro*
*notes in parenthesis are eighth notes and the last note is sustained
e|---------------------------|
b|---------------------------|
g|--------------2-0----------|
d|----------0-2-----(2-0)-2--|
a|------0-2------------------|
e|--0-3----------------------|
Well I was found in the transit lounge
Of a dirty airport town
What was I doing on the road to ruin
Well my mama laid me down
My mama laid me down
Round my hand was a plastic band
With a picture of my face
I was crying left to die
This God forsaken place
This God forsaken place
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I'm passing through, I'm on my way
I'm on the road, no ETA.
I'm passing through, no fixed abode
And that is why I need to try
To hold on. I've gotta hold on, gotta hold on
Was it planned as a one night stand
Or did she live in disgrace
Well I never will I ever see my father's face see
my father's face
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows why she laid me down
In this God forsaken town
She was running to, what she ran from
Though I always wondered I never knew
Only Mama knows
Only Mama knows
I've gotta hold on. I've gotta hold on.
You've gotta hold on
--------------