[Verse 1]
Mom and Dad told me
When you were on the way
They wouldn't love me any less
Well, I didn't believe them
I thought you'd take my place
I didn't know a best friend's what I'd get

[Pre-Chorus]
Through the years, I'd make mistakes
So you wouldn't have to make 'em
And I took chances every day
So you'd know when to take 'em

[Chorus]
You can follow my footprints
But you don't gotta fill my shoes
It's just a path for you to follow if you so choose
You can take the road less traveled
Yeah, I'd probably do that, too
But if you're lost and feelin' broken through and through
You can follow the footprints I left for you

[Verse 2]
If you break Mama's window
Just go on and tell the truth
'Cause trust is the one thing you don't wanna break
And if you drink yourself into trouble
Then gettin' locked up in your room
Is way better than gettin' locked up at the station
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, through the years, I'd make mistakes
So you wouldn't have to make 'em
Yeah, I took chances every day
So you'd know when to take 'em

[Chorus]
You can follow my footprints
But you don't gotta fill my shoes
It's just a path for you to follow if you so choose
You can take the road less traveled
Yeah, I'd probably do that, too
But if you're lost and feelin' broken through and through
You can follow the footprints I left for you

[Post-Chorus]
I left for you

[Bridge]
And if, one day, you run right past me
Chasin' down your dreams (Chasin' down your dreams)
I hope that I can look ahead
And you'll turn and say to me

[Chorus]
"You can follow my footprints
But you don't gotta fill my shoes
It's just a path for you to follow if you so choose
You can take the road less traveled
Yeah, I'd probably do that, too
But if you're lost and feelin' broken through and through
You can follow the footprints I left for you"
[Outro]
You can follow the footprints I left for you