I woke up crying late at night
When I was very young
I had dreamed my father
Had passed away and gone

My world revolved around him
I couldn't lie there anymore
So I made my way down the mirrored hall
And tapped upon his door

And I said "Daddy, I'm so afraid
How will I go on with you gone that way?
Don't want to cry anymore, so may I stay with you?"

And he said "That's my job
That's what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That's my job you see"

Later we barely got along
This teenage boy and he
Most of the fights it seems
Were over different dreams
We each held for me

He wanted knowledge and learning
I wanted to fly out west
Said, "I could make it out there
If I just had the fare
I got half, will you loan me the rest?"

And I said "Daddy, I'm so afraid
There's no guarantee in the plans
I've made and if I should fail
Who will pay my way back home?"

And he said "That's my job
That's what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That's my job you see"

Every person carves his spot
And fills the hole with light
And I pray someday I might
Light as bright as he

Woke up early one bright fall day
To spread the tragic news
After all my travel, I settled down
Within a mile or two

I make my living with words and rhyme
And all this tragedy
Should go into my head and out instead
As bits of poetry

But I say "Daddy, I'm so afraid
How will I go on with you gone this way?
How can I come up with a song to say I love you?"

That's my job, that's what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me
That's my job you see
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe with me

Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): Gary Burr