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.