Story Behind The Song

A fan who is in the military was telling me about the gut wrenching scenes at reserve centers whenever folks are shipped out. This is the perspective from one such family

Song Description

A little girl misses her daddy, who's been shipped back to Iraq for yet ANOTHER tour of duty.

Lyrics

At 8 every evening she brushes her teeth
After warm milk and cookies with her mother and me
She picks out her favorite book with a glean in her eye
And looks up in wonder with a hint of surprise

Chorus
She says ?Daddy please carry me up to bed
Sometimes I worry and sometimes I?m sad
But I feel so much safer here in your arms
So Daddy please carry me up to bed.?

Every night it?s the same ritual as the sun?s going down
My little princess standing there in her favorite nightgown
She knows there?s no question she can always count on me
But each and every evening it?s the same sweet plea C/

Then one Saturday the phone rang they were calling me back
?Pack your bags and your uniform, you?re headed for Iraq.?
They reminded me of that day long ago when I signed on the line
Bedtime stories and my Princess could wait till some other time

I was talking to my wife about what needed done
How the gutters needed cleaning and the old truck just won?t run
It was then that I realized it was half past 8
A sweet voice on the extension line that made my heart break C/

I tried to explain, ?Daddy has a job to do.?
As I choked back my tears I said, ?Daddy loves you.?
My 5 year old just can?t understand the logic of war
And as I sit here in the ?Green Zone? I?m not sure I do anymore C/ (then last Chorus)

Last Chorus
My princess cries ?Daddy please carry me up to bed
Sometimes I worry and sometimes I?m sad.
But I always feel safer when I?m here in your arms
Daddy PLEASE come back home? and carry me up to bed!?

©2005 J. David Hawkins
Mountainside Music- BMI