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He Didn't Have To Be Lyrics
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma 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 prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, 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 about 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
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
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
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run
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 prayed that she'd say yes
Oh, 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
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
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
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
That he didn't have to be
Because he didn't have to be
You know he didn't have to be
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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.
Agreed. Socially commenting it's too bad there aren't many or any men like that.
Agreed. Socially commenting it's too bad there aren't many or any men like that.
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.
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.
This video was the first music video to ever bring a tear to my eye...
I am crying as I listen to this. It's perfect.
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. ;)