[Verse 1] He watched the runway fade in the rearview of his mind Chasing every story that his father left behind Model planes and bedtime tales of courage in the sky Little boy with paper wings, always reaching high [Pre-Chorus] Every takeoff felt like standing in his shadow Every landing was a prayer he never said Every mission was a chance to somehow show him He was worthy of the footsteps that he tread [Chorus] I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I hope you know I tried I carried all your stories Every time I touched the sky If this is where it ends for me With smoke and breaking blue I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I just wanted to be you [Verse 2] He wore his father's bracelet tucked beneath his glove Cold steel on his wrist, a quiet kind of love Graduation photographs, his dad there in the crowd Eyes that never said too much, but man, he looked so proud [Pre-Chorus] Every medal felt like reaching for his handshake Every briefing like a lesson from before Every runway light a promise that he whispered "I'll be the son you always waited for" [Chorus] I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I hope you know I tried I carried all your stories Every time I touched the sky If this is where it ends for me With smoke and breaking blue I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I just wanted to be you [Bridge] When the engine cried and the warning lights were burning He saw childhood in the glass, where the clouds were turning Radio was screaming, but his mind was somewhere else Back to kitchen-table maps and toy planes on the shelf [Breakdown] He said, "Dad, I hear you telling me to hold on All those nights you taught me how to stand strong If I fall today, I fall the way you showed me Brave enough to say the truth that always rode me" [Chorus] I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I hope you know I tried I carried all your stories Every time I touched the sky If this is where it ends for me And I don't make it through I'm sorry, Dad, I love you I just wanted to make you proud like you [Final Chorus] I'm sorry, Dad, I love you Last breath in the radio Your name is on my heartbeat Every place I had to go If this is where my wings give out And I fade from your view I'm sorry, Dad, I love you Dad, my hero, I flew for you [Outro] I'm sorry, Dad, I love you (crowd chanting) I'm sorry, Dad, I love you (voices breaking through) I'm sorry, Dad, I love you Dad, my hero, I flew for you
