C
Well, I cant sell my momma short on loving me, 
I guess that's why she let me go so far, 
F
Momma always stopped me short of stealing, 
  C
I guess thats why I had to steal that car,
                                                           F
She told me not to smoke it, but I did and it took me far away,
                    G                               C
And I turned out to be, THE ONLY HELL MY MOMMA EVER RAISED.

V2
C
I pulled into Atlanta 
stolen tags and almost out of gas,
F                                                             
I had to get some money, and lately I'd learned how to get it fast,
    C
Those neon lights was calling me
                         F    
and somehow I had to get downtown, 
                      G                                 C
I reached into the glovebox, another liquor store went down.

CHORUS:
C                                                            F
And I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' days.
      G                                                  C
I can hear my momma singing, "Rock of Ages" clef for me,
C                                                                F
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's ways,
                    G                                C
And I turned out to be...THE ONLY HELL MY MOMMA EVER RAISED.

V3
C
When they put those handcuffs on me, 
Lord how I fought to resist,
F
But that agent clamped'em tighter, 'til that metal bit into my wrist,
    C
They took my boots and my billfold, 
                                        F
my fingerprints, and the profile of my face,
                  G                                C
Then they locked away, THE ONLY HELL MY MOMMA EVER RAISED.

CHORUS:
C                                                            F
And I sing "Precious Memories," take me back to the good ol' days.
      G                                                  C
I can hear my momma singing, "Rock of Ages" clef for me,
C                                                                F
She tried to turn me on to Jesus, but I turned on to the devil's ways,
                    G                                C
And I turned out to be...THE ONLY HELL MY MOMMA EVER RAISED.
--