Oh it wasn't the time that he spent with me.
He had little to spare.
Oh it wasn't the things that he gave me.
We never had much around here.
But oh I saw his shadow in my room at night.
And oh I heard him
whisper things would be all right.
And oh I hated
when he'd leave and turn out the lights.
Oh he was my dad.

Oh it wasn't the love that he showed me.
He was too reserved.
Oh it wasn't the mother he gave me.
She left me at birth.
But oh I saw him smile at me in my sleep.
And oh I wondered
what it was in his dreams.
And oh I hated
that I'd grow old and have to leave.
Oh he was my dad.