D G D A

D           D7                   G               D
Mama always prayed that I'd be a better man than daddy
                 D7             A
and I determined not to let her down
D               D7                G                  D
Deserted by the man she loved and left to raise four children
                  A7            D
we were the local gossip of the town.


  D                 D7                 G               D
I promised her that I'd live right and not be like the others
                  D7               A
but I wound up in jail on Chrismas day
  D               D7              G              D
I told her I'd be home and not to worry 'bout my brothers
                   A7             D
when I got home my mom had passed away


(chorus)

    D      D7       G               D
And I hear tell the road to hell is paved with good intentions
    D7                          A
and mama my intentions were the best
D             D7     G            D
There's lotsa things in my life I just as soon not mention
D7                                      A
Looks like I've turned out like all the rest
    G         A7                D
But mama my intentions were the best


  D               D7              G             D
A little boy with big blue eyes a-beggin' to go fishing
                   D7             A
I promised him but never took the time
    D                 D7          G            D
Now they won't let me see him and I sit here a-wishing
                A7               D
Wishin' I could hold him one more time

(repeat chorus)

    G         A7                D
But mama my intentions were the best