because of you

And I’d still have one more thing to say.

Verse 2
Mama, I was seven when you taught me how to cook,
Eleven when you taught me how to iron.
You showed me I could do things on my own,
And when I got it wrong, I’d just keep trying.
You taught me how to love and how to care,
How to pull a chair up when somebody hurt.
Now when I set another place to eat,
I think of you and where I learned it first.

Chorus
Mom and Dad, I miss the days
When I could come to you.
Something good still happens and I think,
I can’t wait to tell you two.
Then I remember you’re both gone,
And I don’t know what to do.
What I’d give for one more evening
When I could come to you.

Verse 3
Dad, you taught me from the time I was a boy
To take a breath and let my feelings settle down.
You taught me how to think a problem through,
And hold to what was right when no one was around.
You taught me to speak up for myself,
And stand beside someone who needed my help.
I love you, Dad. I see you in the man I am,
In how I care and how I try to be gentle.

Verse 4
In my teens, I swore you were unfair.
I thought you meant to hurt me with the things you’d say.
Then I grew up, and when life got loud,
I’d find my peace with you at the end of the day.
Some days you caught me, some days you let me fall.
You taught me to get back up each and every time.
With every fall I got a little stronger,
Till I could stand on these two feet of mine.

Verse 5
We spent whole days around the table,
Hearing how it was when you were young.
You told me what you’d learned along the way,
And laughed at some of the things you’d done.
I thought you sounded ancient then,
Like you’d come straight out of the days of old.
Now I hear the wisdom in your words,
And wish there was one more story to be told.

Bridge
You taught me to give folks
The benefit of the doubt.
They might have their reasons
I may never figure out.
I can give them grace and keep my peace,
And think through what I’m told.
If someone tries to fool me or do me harm,
I know when it’s time to go.

Final Chorus
Mom and Dad, I miss the days
When I could come to you.
If I had one more evening,
I’d pull up a chair with you.
I’d ask to hear the story
I thought I already knew.
And before the night was over,
I’d tell you both I love you.

Outro
Sometimes I thought that you were unfair.
I can see it clearer now.
You were teaching me to be the best I could be,
In the best way you knew how.
Mom and Dad, because of your kindness,
Because of your love,
Today I am where I am because of you.