Story Behind The Song

We all learn our behaviors from our parents. Girls usually from their mothers, and boys, largely from their fathers. I figured out after I was grown that I had learned to be the person I am by my daddy's example, and that he had learned from my grandpa, his dad. I also realized some things that could have been better for me can be changed with a little coaching. And, of course, there are some things I wouldn't change at all, even if I could.

Song Description

Vignettes of lessons learned from my daddy, with a recapitulation to put it all in focus.

Lyrics

Like Father, Like Son

Daddy used to beat me,
With his fists and with his words
The scars that he inflicted
Hurt me right down to my core.
I didn't know it at the time,
But all he gave to me
Passed on his father's painful legacy.

Like Father, Like Son.
Like Father, Like Son.
There's no way to change the past,
It can't be undone.
The old man that I hated
Is the old man I've become.
History repeats itself,
Like Father, Like Son.

Daddy used to teach me,
We'd hike and hunt and fish.
The lessons that he passed on
Made me feel like I was rich.
I didn't know it at the time,
But all he gave to me
Passed on his father's joyful legacy.

Like Father, Like Son.
Like Father, Like Son.
There's no way to change the past,
It can't be undone.
The old man that I loved so much
Is the old man I've become.
History repeats itself,
Like Father, Like Son.

Be careful in the things you say and do,
'Cause everything you show your son
Will all come back to you...

Like Father, Like Son.
Like Father, Like Son.
Give him all the love you have,
When all is said and done.
The old man that you show him
Is the old man he'll become.
History repeats itself,
Like Father, Like Son,
Like Father, Like Son.

CowboySlim