He was thinkin' back when he was a kid
His folks were divorced
His old man high on somethin'
Came knockin' at the door
His mama wouldn't talk to him
She said, "Boy, don't you let him in"
She was cussin' and pacin'
And wastin' her life at that linoleum floor
He took him back to his old apartment
Turned off the TV
His beautiful broken hero on the couch
Passed out asleep
And he put him to bed
With tears in his eyes
He said, "Dad, I love you, goodbye"
He headed out into the night
Seventeen years old
Fired up that rusty old pickup
Turned his collar to the cold
And he headed back to Mama's place
Ready for his big escape
And he tiptoed up the stairs
And left a note in the cover's fold
It said, "Mom, I wish I could wave a wand
And make you smile again
Bring back the man who stole your heart
'Fore the demons got to him"
"If I stay here any longer
Somethin' sacred's gonna die"
He said, "Mom, I love you, goodbye"
Took a lot of wrong turns
On the road findin' his life
By the grace of God he ended up
With a boy and a wife
And the phone call came from his sister
'Twas that old familiar pain
His mother was at the doorstep
Of Heaven's pure white light
At the end of the service
His father came up to him
Clear eyed and sober now
He said, "Boy, Jesus took my sins"
"And I pray someday
Maybe you'll forgive me too"
With tears in his eyes
He said, "Son, I love you, goodbye"
His plane touched down in Texas
He pulled out his phone
Dialed in the number
Got the machine of his old man's home
He said, "Dad we got an extra room
And your grandson has your eyes"
Couldn't say anything else
'Cause he started to cry
And he choked out
"Dad, I love you, goodbye
Dad, I love you, goodbye"
