Memories

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 hand;

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 cryin' 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

Reachin' out his tiny hands for love.