D5 G5 D5 A5 
 
D5           D5                   G5               D5 
Mama always prayed that I'd be a better man than daddy 
                 D5             A5 
and I determined not to let her down 
D5               D5                G5                  D5 
Deserted by the man she loved and left to raise four children 
                  A5            D5 
we were the local gossip of the town. 
 
 
  D5                 D5                 G5               D5 
I promised her that I'd live right and not be like the others 
                  D5               A5 
but I wound up in jail on Chrismas day 
  D5               D5              G5              D5 
I told her I'd be home and not to worry 'bout my brothers 
                   A5             D5 
when I got home my mom had passed away 

Refr?o -------------
    D5      D5       G5               D5 
And I hear tell the road to hell is paved with good intentions 
    D5                          A5 
and mama my intentions were the best 
D5             D5     G5            D5 
There's lotsa things in my life I just as soon not mention 
D5                                      A5 
Looks like I've turned out like all the rest 
    G5         A5                D5 
But mama my intentions were the best
--------------------
 
  D5               D5              G5             D5 
A little boy with big blue eyes a-beggin' to go fishing 
                   D5             A5 
I promised him but never took the time 
    D5                 D5          G5            D5 
Now they won't let me see him and I sit here a-wishing 
                A5               D5 
Wishin' I could hold him one more time 
 
(repeat chorus) 
    G5         A5                D5 
But mama my intentions were the best