For the longest time he was the kind I just didn't understand
Hard to read, hard to please, yeah that was my old man
On the day I left I for college it was nothing knew
We never had that heart to heart, he had too much to do

He checked the air in my tires, the belts and all the sparkplug wires
Said when was the last time you had this oil changed
And as I pulled out the drive he said, "be sure and call your mom sometime"
And I didn't hear it then but I hear it now
He was saying "I love you," the only way he knew how

A hundred twenty thousand miles and 6 years down the road
Brand new life brand new wife we just bought our first home
When he finally came to visit I thought he'd be so proud
He never said he liked the place he just got his tool belt out

And put knew locks on the doors, went back and forth to the hardware store
Said come and hold this flashlight as he crawled beneath the sink
These old wires aren't up to code and that circuit box is gonna overload
And I didn't hear it then but I hear it now
He was saying I love you the only way he knew how

But on Sunday we all gathered for his 65th birthday
And I knew he'd stiffen up but I hugged him anyway
It was finally time to say goodbye I knew what was next
Just like he always does right before we left

He checked the air in my tires, the belts and all the sparkplug wires
Said when was the last time you had this oil changed
And as we pulled out the drive he said, "be sure and call your mom sometime"
And I wish I knew back then what I know now
He was saying "I love you," the only way he knew how

(Steve Williams / Liz Hengber / Thom Shepherd) ©2009 Songs of Green Hills / Songs of Oak Hill / Pier Three Music / SESAC / c/o Green Hills Music Group, LLC, Administered by Big Loud Bucks / Black In The Saddle Songs / Mets Fan Music / Twang Thang Music / ASCAP / Bourbon Street French Quarter Music / SESAC