Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)

Subject: Chords Add: MAMA HATED DIESELS (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,Same
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 01:20 AM

O.K., this is more like what Commander Cody does, and now we do, too:
1 2 3 4
D D D D
D D D D
A A G G
D D D D
Play most of the D measures as D-strum-A-strum with only two of any of the higher strings on any of the strums to give your accompaniment some texture. Do a little walking in the bass at the end of each phrase. Do something different and more spare with the picking and strumming in the A and G measures to help there be a bit of tension as there is something telling in the related lyrics.

Subject: Chords Add: MAMA HATED DIESELS (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 05:07 PM

Here is what we play for my singing:

1    2    3    4
D G D G D G D G
D G D G D G D G
A    A    G    G
D G D G D G D G

Four four-beat measures per lyric phrase.

Key depends on the singer. Lots of songs are sung in D which is shown here.

The chords are the first (tonic), fourth (subdominant), and fifth (dominant) in the key. Two beats of the tonic chord and two beats of the subdominant. Eight measures, two lyric phrases of that alternating pattern. Shift to two measures of the dominant for the earnest part, 'The first I ever seen her cry'. Then two measures of the subdominant for relief. Back to four measures of the tonic-subdominant for the lyric resolution 'Mama hated diesel so bad'.

Stay in the tonic-subdominant pattern under the spoken portions of the story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:26 PM

hello does any one know the chords to this song thanks kirk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,onondagacommcoll1976
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 04:34 PM

i used to play bass in the Salt Creek Coyotes...we did a killer version of this song, as well as the entire first record from the new riders of the purple sage...   :>   cosmis cowboy grateful dead stuff was the cornerstone of our repertoire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,tghoffman2
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 08:17 PM

This could be one of the greatest all time songs. Used to listen to it when I was at Cornell in the 70's. They had this show "Salt Creek" that played all this stuff. They also played a song called "I'm a Truck" that was another of my favorites. "Mama" is for sale on iTunes - 99cents cheap.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,dave
Date: 06 Apr 08 - 09:06 AM

lyric update:
It's   "White" Freightliner : not "wide freightliner"

Freightliner was manufactured at one time by the White Motor company,which developed for the Consolidatd Freight Company "Cornflakes" ), one of the big interstate motor carriers who use to pull over the rockies.

they developed a super light truck.. the White Freightliner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: Peace
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 01:37 PM

LYR ADD above.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA HATED DIESELS (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 01:27 PM

Mama hated diesel so bad
I guess I knew it was something to do with Dad
The first time I seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesel so bad

I remember hearing those semi gearing down
My mom and me we used to live on the high-grade end of town
I sure like them wide freightliners
But there was something in Mama's eye
When she catch me watching the road
Lord a little bitty piece of her died

Mama hated diesel so bad
I guess I knew it was something to do with Dad
The first time I seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesel so bad

As the years passed and I grew older
Mama did too
Pretty soon she stopped singing and laughing
Why she'd hardly even eat.
And I began staying away from home on the weekdays
I wouldn't come home from school 'til way past dark
I was too busy having some kind of fun
Either messing around with some gal
Or hanging around the local truck stop
Talking to my buddies about all the big rigs
That all the time were rolling in
And talking about all the crazy places we never been
Like California
Oh one day the county sheriff come up to me
He said they found my mama wandering
All by herself in the middle of the highway crying
She was trying of all things Lord
To flag down one of those big old rigs with a pocket handkerchief
Well that left me on my own
I got a job unloading rigs at the local freight yard
Pretty soon I had a rig of my own
And I left my hometown on my very first run to Frisco
Well that was three years ago today
And I ain't been back home in all that time since then 'til now

Now it's me and the local preacher
Standing in the graveyard grass
Staring down at the highway
Watching those big boys pass
Well he laid his hand upon me
And he prayed for quite some time
But I could barely understand the words he said
Behind that highway's whine

Then he handed me a faded photograph
He said he found it in my mama's hand
He said "Son I'm afraid that you and this picture
Were the best your Mama ever had"
Well I looked down at that picture
It was Mama and some guy
Standing in front of a semi-truck
"Just Married" painted on the side.

Mama hated diesel so bad
I guess I knew it was something to do with Dad
The first time I seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesel so bad

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 07:54 PM

Commander Cody sang MAMA HATED DIESELS on the January 13, 2001 episode of A Prairie Home Companion radio show. Click here to find a description of the program, then click on "52:27" to play the segment of the program that includes the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 01:32 PM

hi im looking for a song called mama hated diesel if u have it please send me it my email is [e-mail]          thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 07:10 PM

I once held a job as a diesel fitter. When a customer came in the store, I'd hold up a pair of panties---and say: "Yeah, dese'll fit her."

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: clueless don
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 09:18 AM

Funny, I remember part of the chorus being

The only time I seen her cry,
was when one of them rigs passed by

But, of course, I may be misremembering.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 03:36 PM

can you help. looking for red haines and outfit

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 06:39 PM

I'm listening to it just now...

Mama hated diesels so bad
I guess I knew it was something to do with Dad
The first I ever seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesels so bad

I remember hearin' those semis gearin' down
My mom and me we lived right on the high grade into town
Well I sure liked them White Freightliners
But there was somethin' in Mama's eyes
When she'd catch me watchin' the road
Lord a little bitty piece of her died.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: pdq
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 08:11 PM

The second song mentioned is called White Freight Liner Blues by Townes Van Zant and was done by quite a few people. Good versions by New Grass Revival, The Flatlanders (Jimmie Dale Gilmore) and Bobby Bare.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 07:30 PM

Well, I'm very surprised that there's no Commander Cody fan site with lotsa lyrics. Here's how I remember the chorus and first verse:

Mama hated diesels so bad
I guess I always knew it was something to do with Dad
The first time I ever seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesels so bad

I remember hearing those semis gearing down
My mother and me we lived right there on the high-grade into town
I sure liked them White Freightliners
But there was something in my Mama's eye
When she'd catch me watching 'em roll
Lord a little bitty piece of her died

I reckon this song is sort of a prequel to Red Sovine's Giddy Up Go.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,chris in yorkshire
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 07:04 PM

hi

a minor correction . . .

it's White Freightliner - see http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/freightliner.htm

great song

Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels So Bad
From: GUEST,you guys
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 08:17 PM

so rock. thanks for that lyric.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels So Bad
From: GUEST,Ed R
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 09:31 AM

Lane

Here it is.

I'm posting this mail to get it back to the top. Because of my tardiness it had got shunted off the bottom.

D'oh!

Ed

Subject: Lyr Req: MAMA HATED DIESELS (Commander Cody)
From: GUEST,Ed R
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 09:13 AM

Hi Lane

Well the best laid plans etc.

Here it is in all its glory. What a harrowing experience that was.

Sorry for the delay in posting.

Enjoy

Ed

MAMA HATED DIESELS

(Chorus)
Mama hated diesel so bad
I guess I knew it was something to do with Dad
The first time I seen her cry
Was after one of them things went by
Mama hated diesel so bad

I remember hearing those semi gearing down
My mom and me we used to live on the high-grade end of town
I sure like them wide freightliners
But there was something in Mama's eye
When she catch me watching the road
Lord a little bitty piece of her died

Chorus

(Spoken)
As the years passed and I grew older
Mama did too
Pretty soon she stopped singing and laughing
Why she'd hardly even eat.
And I began staying away from home on the weekdays
I wouldn't come home from school 'til way past dark
I was too busy having some kind of fun
Either messing around with some gal
Or hanging around the local truck stop
Talking to my buddies about all the big rigs
That all the time were rolling in
And talking about all the crazy places we never been
Like California
Oh one day the county sheriff come up to me
He said they found my mama wandering
All by herself in the middle of the highway crying
She was trying of all things Lord
To flag down one of those big old rigs with a pocket handkerchief
Well that left me on my own
I got a job unloading rigs at the local freight yard
Pretty soon I had a rig of my own
And I left my hometown on my very first run to Frisco
Well that was three years ago today
And I ain't been back home in all that time since then 'til now

(Sing)
Now it's me and the local preacher
Standing in the graveyard grass
Staring down at the highway
Watching those big boys pass
Well he laid his hand upon me
And he prayed for quite some time
But I could barely understand the words he said
Behind that highway's whine

Then he handed me a faded photograph
He said he found it in my mama's hand
He said "Son I'm afraid that you and this picture
Were the best your Mama ever had"
Well I looked down at that picture
It was Mama and some guy
Standing in front of a semi-truck
"Just Married" painted on the side.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels So Bad
From: Lane
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 10:40 PM

Ed,
Thanks a million - I appreciate it!
Lane

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels So Bad
From: GUEST,Ed R
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 08:35 AM

They certainly did on the album "Hot Licks, Cold Steel and Truckers Favourites".

I shall shove it on tonight and try to note down the lyric.

Ed

Subject: Lyr Req: Mama Hated Diesels So Bad
From: Lane
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 12:04 AM

I used to know this and have lost it - can anyone help???? Commander Cody did it, I believe.

Thanks!