(r. springer/t. martin)

daddy was a drinkin´ man
he never took to preachin´
said he found heaven in a drink
well momma was a bible totin´, god fearin´ christian
would tell the devil to his fate
exactly what she thinks

as far as daddy knew
momma couldn´t drive
so every sunday morning he´d give us a ride
well he´d wait out in the car
drinkin´ jim beam from a sack
but as the summer days grew hotter
he found a pew in the back

daddy never had a chance in hell
somethin´ that my momma knew so well
while everybody else gave up
momma wore him down with love
daddy never had a chance in hell

well, summer came and went
but he stayed in the back row
blamin´ it on the cold north wind outside
well i guess that explained
the flannel shirt and jack
but he had no explanation
when momma asked about his tie

he´d move up a little closer
with every passing year
he said it was because
he simply couldn´t hear
i never thought that dad would ever
draw a sober breath
much less lead us all in prayer
when we laid mom to rest

daddy never had a chance in hell
somethin´ that my momma knew so well
while everybody else gave up
momma wore him down with love
daddy never had a chance in hell

while everybody else gave up
momma wore him down with love
daddy never had a chance in hell