as recorded by Percy Sledge on February 1, 1968
Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman - The Ultimate Collection
Atlantic 80212-2
(check out John Hiatt's version on Attack of the Killer B's)

Do this throughout (except the Bm / G part):
   D                  A                  G                  D
e | ----------2------- | ------------------ | ----------3------- | ----------2------- | 

B | -------3-----3---- | ----------2------- | -------------0---- | -------3-----3---- | 

G | ----2-----------2- | -------2-----2---- | ----------------0- | ----2-----------2- | 

D | -0---------------- | ----2-----------2- | -------0---------- | -0---------------- | 

A | ------------------ | -0---------------- | ----2------------- | ------------------ | 

E | ------------------ | ------------------ | -3---------------- | ------------------ | 

D         A    G          D
I found a woman I felt I truly loved
D             A   G               D
She was everything I'd ever been dreaming of
D                A                  G                  D
But she was bad - I didn't know it   Her pretty smile never did show it
D               A               G               D
All I knew was what I could see   And I knew I wanted her for me

                        single notes
Bm                 G   ( G G G  A  Bb )   Bm
I took her home to Mama
                             G     ( G G G  A  Bb )   Bm
Mama wanted to see my future bride
                    G    A
Oh she looked at us both  And then she called me to her side, she said "Son,
D            A         G              D
Take time to know her     It's not an overnight thing
D             A        G               D
Take time to know her     Please don't rush into this thing."


D                      A     G                          D
But I didn't listen to Mama     I went straight to the church
D                                     A
I just couldn't wait to have a little girl of mine
G          D
When I got home from work
D                       A
The preacher was there     So was my future bride
G                               D
He looked at us both and the he called me to his side, he said "Son,
D            A         G              D
take time to know her     It's not an overnight thing
D             A        G               D
Take time to know her     Please don't rush into this thing."

(spoken):
D                                        A
Well it looked like everything was gonna turn out alright
G                             D
And then I came home a little early one night
(sung):
D                 A
And there she was kissing on another man
G                                   D
Now I know what Mama meant when she took me by the hand and said "Son,
D            A         G              D
take time to know her     It's not an overnight thing
D             A        G               D
Take time to know her     Please don't rush into this thing."

D            A                   G              D
Take time to know her            It's not an overnight thing
(take        time, take a little time son       ooohhh)
D            A                   G              D
Take time to know her     Please don't          rush into this thing."
(take        time, take a little time son       ooohhh)

(repeat & fade)