I Saw My Mother's Name Chords
I Saw My Mother's Name by Hank Thompson is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of C. It uses the chords C, C7, F, Em, Am and G7. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
C Your daddy was a gambling man
My C7 mother F said to C me C7 ...
He F left me C when you Em were a Am child
But he was C all this G7 world to C me.
I know your daddy loved me too
For tattooed on his arm
Was a heart of love that bore my name
And was his good luck charm.
I didn't heed my mother's words
To leave the cards alone
I took to gambling just like dad
And left my mother's home.
One night a gang was gathered 'round
We dealt a hand of draw
An old man sat across from me
And this is what I saw.
>From out his sleeve he pulled a card
And I pulled out my gun
I shot him dead not knowing then
What evil I had done.
He fell across the table
His hands reached out in vain
His sleeve slid back and upon his arm
I could see so plain.
I gazed down at his lifeless form
And I hung my head in shame
For upon his arm was a tattooed heart
And I saw my mother's name.