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 (chorus) 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 (repeat chorus) But mama my intentions were the best