Eyes of My Father

From the Album Don’t Stand Still

The tree in the backyard
Of the house where I once lived
Was planted by my father
And I when I was a kid
It was but a sapling
Now it’s sixty foot tall
Giving shade to the green house
On the corner in the park
Walking home from school
With my father in the dark
“You’re my favorite son” Dad laughed.
“But Dad, I’m your only one.”

The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

His hair was red and curly
Not a wrinkle in his pants
He had a way of talking
That made everybody laugh
He taught me how to fish
And how to play baseball
Sold coffee for a living
Chain-smoked Kent cigarettes
The suits that he wore
Were tailored by the best
He looked like a million
Though just made ends meet, that’s all

The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

He was raised in the city
After school got chased home
By a gang of children
Who wouldn’t leave Dad alone
Until he decided to fight back
To get up each time he’d fall
He fought in the Pacific
In World War II
On a big battleship
Until the war was through,
Came home and got married
To a girl from Des Moines, my Mom
The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

Everybody knew him
By the name of Red
When he would snap his belt
I knew it was time for bed
Drinking cups of coffee
At midnight he stared up at the wall
He found it hard to talk
About what he felt inside
‘Till that day he took me driving
To share what was on his mind
“A man don’t live forever.
One day son I’ll be gone”

The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

Every corner grocery owner
In the city it’s been said
Brought food to the doorstep
For the family of Red’s
No one could believe it
When they heard the news
This man who helped people
Not as sick as he
Who never missed a game
I played in Little League
“It’s not the kind of work you do
Son, it’s who you are!”

The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

Yesterday I went driving
By that green house in the Park
With his grandson
To share with him my heart
Beside that maple tree
Standing fifty foot tall
“For years I was angry
At your Grandpa ‘cause he died.
Now I see his laughter
Of love in your eyes.
You’re my favorite son,” I laughed,
“But Dad, I’m your only one.”
The eyes of my father
They’re looking down on me

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 2008 | BMI

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