You Had To Be There

He sat down, picked up the phone
Said Boy, I'm your old man.
Touched the glass between the two,
As if to shake his hand.
The boy, he didn't budge
Not even so much as a blink.
The man said Oh come on,
Better late than never, don't you think?
He said I read it in the paper,
Can't believe your twenty-one.
Can't believe some son of mine
Could do the things I hear you've done.
Went on like some big hero
Who flew in to save the day.
The boy said If you're here
To steer me right, man, it's too late.

Chorus:
You had to be there
And I'm talkin from day one.
That's the only time a man
Should talk through glass to his new son
And you'd have to go back
And teach me how when I was nine
Cause my momma couldn't throw a ball
Even if she had the time.
I shoulda been learnin' how to fish
Instead of learnin' how to smoke.
I bet if you'd whooped my tail
I'd never thought it was a joke.
He said sometimes the will for doin' wrong
Is way too strong for any momma's prayers.
You had to be there.

The man said Boy I'm sorry
That you hate me like you do.
The boy said Dry it up man.
We ain't makin' this 'bout you.
It's 'bout a teenage girl against the world
Who was left there high and dry.
'Bout a kid who might've stood
A whole lot better shot at life.

Chorus - repeat.

The boy stood up, hung up the phone
Said They say I'm out of time.
It hit the man, right then and there
My God, son, so am I.

◘Frenick◘