When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My mama used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes

And then all of a sudden, ah, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing to a family
Lookin' back all I can say about all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

I met the girl that's now my wife 'bout three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in

And now all of a sudden, ah, it seemed so strange to me
How we had gone from something's missing to a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man that's standing next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

And lookin' back all I can say about all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be
Because he didn't have to be
You know he didn't have to be


Lyrics submitted by rockstar042081

He Didn't Have to Be Lyrics as written by Brad Paisley Kelley Lovelace

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group

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He Didn't Have To Be song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This is obviously about a kid's step dad and how he wanted to take on the job of not only being a good husband but an awesome dad. when he gets older he wants to be as good of a dad that he never HAD to be but was anyway.

    sambeeon September 02, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is very personal to me. My dad passed away of cancer when I was 10. I grew up without a father but had the best mother. Fast forward to when I met this girl. I wasn't looking to meeting anyone but we clicked. She had a son from a previous marriage. He was about 13 months old and just learning to walk. He and I clicked as well. We were all three a tight little unit. We never went anywhere without taking her son with us. It was package deal and I was more than happy to have them both. We were later married and I adopted him. Raised him as my own. Taught him how to play baseball and coached his teams. We later added a daughter of our own. Now he is all grown up in his mid 20s and he has almost nothing to do with me. As far as I know he doesn't know or see his biological father. It's heart breaking but this song means so much to me.

    Frehley4on October 07, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song...Paisley is extraordinarily good at writing songs like this...songs that mean something more than "I love you, you love me, let's make love," or something of the sort.

    zacsteron November 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This video was the first music video to ever bring a tear to my eye...

    jello_bobon March 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I am crying as I listen to this. It's perfect.

    DreamAwakeon January 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I want this to be my "father" - daughter dance with my step-dad. Cause this is him in every sense. the only downside, is obviously, I will not be a father to a child. ;)

    LILYxattheDiscoon June 25, 2012   Link

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