Intro
Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G 
 
Verse 1
  Am             G            Am      G       Am  G  Am G 
I wrote a little letter and I left it by your bed 
  Am            G      Am            G          Am G Am G 
I looked to the August skies and the moon shone red 
Em                                                  Am G Am G 
This is for the best but it’s gonna be hard for the kids 
Em                                            Am 
Breaking up a family is always hardest on the kids 
 
Interlude
(Am) G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G 
 
Verse 2
      Am      G          Am       G    Am    G  Am G 
Thank God the baby’s too young to understand 
        Am            G      Am         G    Am G Am G 
but the boy’s growing up and soon he’ll be a man 
Em                                   Am    G  Am  G 
I’m gonna teach him how to treat his girls 
Em                                     Am 
and how true love is the rarest of all pearls 
 
Chorus
  F 
I love you baby, I love you to bits 
        Am 
but you broke some things that can never be fixed 
   G 
As God is my witness I’ll promise you this 
N.C.         Em  N.C.              Am 
I’ll explain     everything to the kids 
 
Interlude
(Am) G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G 
 
Verse 3
Am           G         Am         G         Am    G  Am  G 
I found your bags, you planned on traveling light 
Am         G          Am      G        Am    G Am G 
taking the kids, disappearing into the night 
Em                                      Am         G Am G 
Did you really think I’d do anything to hurt them? 
Em                                                  Am 
Did you really question the love that I have for my children? 
 
Chorus
F 
I won’t abide by no judge’s gavel 
        Am 
take my case to God and his all male panel 
G 
As I live and breathe I promise you this 
N.C.         Em  N.C.              Am 
I’ll explain     everything to the kids 
 
Interlude
(Am) G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G  Am  G 
 
Verse 4
     Am             G       Am           G     Am  G  Am G 
Took mercy with the dose so there should be no pain 
  Am             G          Am        G      Am   G Am G 
I wrote a little letter and signed it in your name 
Em                                        Am      G Am G 
Your lungs go first so there should be no screams 
Em                                              Am 
The kids won’t hear a thing, I’ll see you in my dreams 
 
Chorus
F 
I love you baby, I love you to death 
Am 
Remember our love as you draw your last breath 
G 
As I live and breathe I’ll promise you this 
N.C.         Em  N.C.              Am 
I’ll explain     everything to the kids 
 
Outro
C                      G 
Once the baby can understand 
                      Em 
and the boy becomes a man 
                             Am 
I’ll explain the ways of the world 
C                      G 
Once the baby can understand 
                      Em 
and the boy becomes a man 
                             Am 
I’ll explain the ways of the world 
        G                              Am 
And how true love is the rarest of all pearls.