I SAW MY MOTHER'S NAME
Recorded by Hank Thompson
Words and music by Hank Thompson and Billy Gray

[C] Your daddy was a gambling man
My [C7] mother [F] said to [C] me [C7] ...
He [F] left me [C] when you [Em] were a [Am] child
But he was [C] all this [G7] world to [C] me.

I know your daddy loved me too
For tattooed on his arm
Was a heart of love that bore my name
And was his good luck charm.

I didn't heed my mother's words
To leave the cards alone
I took to gambling just like dad
And left my mother's home.

One night a gang was gathered 'round
We dealt a hand of draw
An old man sat across from me
And this is what I saw.

>From out his sleeve he pulled a card
And I pulled out my gun
I shot him dead not knowing then
What evil I had done.

He fell across the table
His hands reached out in vain
His sleeve slid back and upon his arm
I could see so plain.

I gazed down at his lifeless form
And I hung my head in shame
For upon his arm was a tattooed heart
And I saw my mother's name.