Mama always prayed that I'd be a better man than daddy And I determined not to let her down Deserted by the man she loved and left to raise four children We were the local gossip of the town.
I promised her that I'd live right and not be like the others But I wound up in jail on Chrismas day I told her I'd be home and not to worry 'bout my brothers When I got home my mom had passed away
And I hear tell the road to hell is paved with good intentions And mama my intentions were the best There's lotsa things in my life I just as soon not mention Looks like I've turned out like all the rest But mama my intentions were the best
A little boy with big blue eyes a-beggin' to go fishing I promised him but never took the time Now they won't let me see him and I sit here a-wishing Wishin' I could hold him one more time
And I hear tell the road to hell is paved with good intentions And mama my intentions were the best There's lotsa things in my life I just as soon not mention Looks like I've turned out like all the rest But mama my intentions were the best