My old man had some stories
He told them all the time
He was a wild ba*tard in a former life
And it carried into mine
It broke my heart what he said to me
In a call in the middle of the night
Said, "I hope you know I'm proud of you son
And by the way, I'm running out of time"
It was my birthday when I got the news
A greyhound ticket and some orphan blues
Got my girl to feed the dog so I could go back home
The place was still a mess just like the day I left
Only difference being him not around now to leave it alone
There was a half cup of coffee and some hot rod magazines
That sh**ty little radio on oldies 93
I put on a suit and combed my hair
Bought a bottle of whiskey and made my way there
To pay my respects to that sweet old ba*tard of mine
Saw some busted rope on an apple tree
Just a vague idea of what it used to be
Blowing free in the cemetery breeze
I held my distance from the sad eyed crowd
And the box that just carried somebody now
While my old man's ghost was having a drink somewhere
My mama blew town when I was 3
And he did his best to stick around for me
I hope he knows I love him for that
Giving up that wild life for me