I never knew my father
He left when I was young
They say he was a proud man
As good as they come
He left like all the others
When no work could be found
He smiled and told my mother
I won’t let you down
The autumn turned to winter
And the light left her eyes
No footsteps on the front porch
No word of him arrived
A promise torn to pieces
And tossed to the ground
Though at night she grieved him
She never made a sound
I know he had a reason
I know a man can get lost
Whatever he believed in
I know he suffered the cost
His picture’s almost faded
But I filled in the lines
And nothing’s unforgiven
So father don’t you cry
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Now the years have found me
With a child of my own
Another generation
That must carry the load
But somewhere there’s a memory
In the back of my mind
I see my father smiling
With a face like mine
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh