He was thinking back when he was a kid

His folks were divorced

His old man high on something

Came knocking at the door

His mama wouldn't talk to him

She said boy dontcha let him in



She was cussing and pacing and wasting her life

On that linoleum floor

He took him back to his old apartment

Turned off the TV

His beautiful broken hero on the couch

Passed out asleep

And he put 'em to bed

With tears in his eyes

He said dad I love you, Goodbye



He headed out into the night

Seventeen years old

Fired up that rusty old pickup

Turned his collar to the cold

And he headed back to mama's place

Ready for his big escape

And he tiptoed up the stairs and left a note

In the cover's fold



It said mom I wish I could wave a wand

And make you smile again

Bring back the man who stole your heart

'fore the demons got to him

If I stay here any longer

Something sacreds gonna die

He said mom I love you, Goodbye



Took a lot of wrong turns on the road

Finding his life

By the grace of God he ended up

With a little boy and a wife

And the phone call came from his sister

It was that old familiar pain

His mother was at the doorstep

Of heaven's pure white light



At the end of the service

His father came up to him

Clear eyed and sober now he said

Boy Jesus took my sins

And I pray someday maybe you'll forgive me too

With tears in his eyes

He said son I love you, Goodbye



His plane touched down in Texas

He pulled out his phone

Dialed in the number, got the machine

Of his old man's home

He said dad we got an extra room

And your grandson has your eyes

Couldn't say anything else

Cause he started to cry

And he choked out dad I love you, Goodbye



Dad I love you, Goodbye