My father is a good man; he’s raised his family right
I can hear his voice in mine when I wish my girl goodnight
I know he had his problems and I still have a few
But I've realized he's just a man and that's all I am, too
Although he's reached his autumn years the oak's still standing tall ---
And I will be there with him as the leaves begin to fall---
It seems a few short years ago I was just a kid
And I paid great attention to the things my father did
And now I have a family of my own
And I'm mindful how the twig is bent the tree is surely grown
So I try with all my heart to do the best job that I can
With the father, the child, and the man
My daughter has her mother's charm, a blessing in disguise
Old men, kids, and animals are drawn to her like flies
She's young and smart and stubborn and living fancy-free
But there's a tougher side to teenage life that’s not too hard to see
We both have faced the conflicts and the stark uncertainty ---
Between heaven and the heartbreak and responsibility---
It seems a few short years ago I was just a kid…
It seems a few short years ago I was just a boy
And the boy is still a part of me, playing with my toys
This father loves his daughter and I wish her all the best
I'll be her Dad for comfort and I'll be her Dad for rest
And this man has got a ton of chores, choices that he's made ---
Promises he’d best fulfill and bills that must be paid---
It seems a few short years ago I was just a kid…
Copyright 2006 Malcolm McKinney