[Intro, solo piano] [Spoken] You know? ... Dad... When I was young, I couldn't wait to be nothing like you. [pause] Took me a lifetime to realize... I never stood a chance. ─── [Verse 1] I wear my jacket like you wore yours I check the lock before I leave I shake a man's hand looking at him And still say "thank you" and "please" I keep my word when no one's watching I make the call when things aren't right And every time I tell my children "Don't worry, we'll be alright" I hear you. [pause] I hear you. ─── [Verse 2] You weren't a man for conversation At least not where the feelings were You'd fix the door, you'd fill the tank And somehow that meant more than words You taught me showing up was loving That promises don't need applause That being there when things get ugly Says more about a man than talk ─── [Pre-Chorus] I thought I learned to walk alone. But every road that brought me home... Had your footprints under mine. ─── [Chorus] So thank you For the man I became For giving me your stubborn heart And teaching me to carry my name For every time you stood behind me When I thought I stood alone I spent half my life trying to become my own man... Only to find you'd brought me home. ─── [Instrumental, muted trumpet] ─── [Verse 3] There were years we didn't understand The men that each of us became I wanted answers you couldn't give me You gave me lessons just the same And now I know why you looked tired Why sometimes silence filled the room A man can carry everybody And leave himself no shoulder too [pause] I understand that now. More than I wanted to. ─── [Chorus] So thank you For the man I became For teaching me that losing gracefully Doesn't mean you lost the game For making sure I knew my value Without telling me my worth You didn't hand me an easy life... You taught me how to walk this earth. ─── [Bridge, piano and strings] I wish I could sit with you one morning Ask the things I never asked Tell you some of those old arguments Don't matter now... They're past. I'd tell you you were right sometimes. [pause] Don't get carried away. [small laugh] And then... I'd tell you something I should've said when you were here. ─── [Music almost stops] Dad... I'm proud to be your son. ─── [Final Chorus, orchestra gradually rises] Thank you For the man I became For every piece of you I carry Even things I used to blame Your hands aren't here to guide me But somehow they still do And every time my children look at me... I understand a little more of you. So if there's anything worth keeping When our little time is through I hope someday my children say of me... What I'm saying now of you. [pause] You made me the man I am. And Dad... I'm grateful that you did. ─── [Outro, solo piano] [Spoken] I used to think I was becoming you. [pause] Turns out... I was becoming me. You just taught me how. [muted trumpet] Thank you, Dad. [final piano chord]
