By the time I made it home, you were already in bed
Chubby cheek pressed to your a pillow
By a bedtime book you read
And I noticed that you looked older than you did yesterday
You’ve been growing up while I was away

You made a pile of leaves in the front yard
I guess it’s already fall
By the look of those pictures your mama took
The two of you had a ball
And It made me glad but a little sad
To see those games you played
I missed a lot of smiles while I was away

And for every dollar I earn there’s a lesson
You learn without me there
And every day I’m on the go
I’m praying that you know your daddy cared
Cause the hardest part about working hard
Ain’t about the bills I gotta pay
It’s you growing up while I was away

And I found your note in the kitchen
It’s a real work of art
A stick man holding your stick hand
With “Daddy” written in a heart
And it got me good cause I’ve understood
What you meant to say
You’ve been missing me too while I was away
And for every dollar I earn
There’s a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I’m on the go
I’m praying that you know your daddy cared
Cause the hardest part about working hard
Ain’t about the bills I gotta pay
It’s you growing up while I was away

You know the hardest part about working hard
Ain’t the bills I gotta pay
It’s everything I missed while I was away