Dm                            Everyday my papa would work
Gm                         To try to make ends meet
A7                         To see that we would eat
           Dm                   Keep those shoes upon my feet
Dm                                  Every night my papa would take me
Gm                      And tuck me in my bed
A7                   Kiss me on my head
      Dm                         After all my prayers were said

Bb               C      And there were years
   A7               Dm      Of sadness and of tears
Bb               Through it all
  C               F       Together we were strong
        A7       We were strong
Bb           C      Times were rough
    A7            Dm      But Papa he was tough
Bb             Gm              A7     Mama stood beside him all along

Dm                              Growing up with them was easy
Gm                        The time had flew on by
    A7                   The years began to fly
     Dm                  They aged and so did I
Bb            C     And I could tell
     A7                Dm     That mama she wasn't well
Bb              C                 F    Papa knew and deep down so did she
       A7    So did she
Bb         C     When she died
A7                       Dm      Papa broke down and he cried
    Bb                      Gm                    A7     And all he could say was, "God, why her? Take me!"

Dm                               Gm                   Everyday he sat there sleeping in a rocking chair
A7                      He never went upstais
Dm                         Because she wasn't there
Dm                           Then one day my Papa said,
          Gm                           "Son, I'm proud of how you've grown"
A7                                          He said, "Go out and make it on your own.
      Dm                        Don't worry. I'm O.K. alone."
         Dm                                    He said, "There are things that you must do"
         Gm                              He said, "There's places you must see"
        A7                    And his eyes were sad as he
      Dm                   As he said goodbye to me
Dm                              Every time I kiss my children
Gm                       Papa's words ring true
         A7                            He said, "Children live through you.
         Dm                              Let them grow! They'll leave you, too"
Dm                      Gm                 I remember every word Papa used to say
  A7                      I kiss my kids and pray
             Dm         Bb   C That they'll think of me 
     Dm    G Dm That way  
        Bb C DSomeday