[Verse 1] September sixteenth, a night I’ll never forget Hospital lights, but the whole world held its breath Emma fighting through the pain, stronger than I knew I held her hand, she laid her head on mine Said, “Baby, I’m right here with you” [Pre-Chorus] Every contraction, every tear I stayed beside her through the fear Family waiting, love filled the room Knowing our whole life was changing soon Then 9:46 came around And suddenly we heard that sound [Chorus] In the first 24, I watched my whole world change Maiselynn came into our lives, and gave forever a name From holding Emma through the pain To holding our baby girl September sixteenth, twenty-six You became my whole world Surrounded by family, surrounded by love Thanking God for what He gave us If I could live one day forevermore It’d be those first 24 [Verse 2] Mama finally got to hold you, exhaustion in her eyes But I’ve never seen her stronger, never seen a brighter smile I looked down at your little face, wrapped up warm and tight Couldn’t believe that I was your dad When I held you that first night Tiny hands and sleepy eyes Eight little pounds changed my whole life Everybody gathered close But your mama and me already knew There’d never be another moment Quite like meeting you [Pre-Chorus] Every contraction, every tear I stayed beside her through the fear Family waiting, love filled the room Knowing our whole life was changing soon Then 9:46 came around And suddenly we heard that sound [Chorus] In the first 24, I watched my whole world change Maiselynn came into our lives, and gave forever a name From holding Emma through the pain To holding our baby girl September sixteenth, twenty-six You became my whole world Surrounded by family, surrounded by love Thanking God for what He gave us If I could live one day forevermore It’d be those first 24 [Bridge] One day you’ll see these pictures And probably never understand How strong your mama was that night Or how tight she held my hand You’ll see me sitting there holding you Trying to take it all in A brand-new dad, a brand-new life And where our next chapter begins And when I carried you down that hallway Taking our little girl home I knew wherever life might take us I’d never let you walk alone [Final Chorus] Those first 24 From your first cry to your first sleep Every second became a memory I’ll spend my whole life keeping Emma, you gave me everything When you brought our girl into this world And Maiselynn, at 9:46 Daddy met his little girl Eight pounds laying in my arms Family loving you from the start September sixteenth changed me forever Made three hearts one together And if you ever wonder what I’m living for It started in those first 24 [Outro] 9:46 on a September night Mama held you close and Daddy held you tight Eight pounds of love we’d waited for And that was only the first 24
