Memories of when i was a little boy, four years old,

Waiting for my daddy to come home,

And now i look into the eyes of my own son,

Wondering what he's thinking of,

Waiting at the window when i come home.

Watch his eyes fill up with joy and wonder.

He reaches out his tiny hands;

I feel the bond 'tween boy and man.



Memories of my mom cryin', my daddy gone for weeks at a time,

Not knowing how to comfort her,

Facin' my pillow, pretendin' not to hear.

Now i write this letter to my little boy.

I'm far away, not knowing really what to say

Except, "i'm sorry, oh so sorry."

I don't want to make these same

Mistakes my daddy made with me.

Still his voice rolls off my tongue

When i say, "boy, protect your mom."



Memories of my wife crying on the phone

Wonderin' when i'm coming home.

My voice sounds detached and cold,

Reminds me of someone that i knew;

He had a funny attitude

When i needed him to be

All the things only a daddy could be to me.

And i don't want to make the same

Mistakes my daddy made with me.

Still his voice rolls off my tongue

When i say, "not now, i'm busy son."



Memories of lying in bed with my wife and son,

Overwhelmed by so much love,

Tryin' to explain how a man can cry

Yet still be happy,

Thinking of all the dumb mistakes i've made.

Now i understand my father's pain;

He did the best with what he knew.

I love you daddy.

I watched my son fall asleep

And wonder what he'll think of me

When years from now he sees his son

Reaching out his tiny hands for love.


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