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 

Refr?o -------------
    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