[Intro] [strummed acoustic guitar, melodic electric guitar lead] [Verse 1] [acoustic guitar continues, bass and light percussion enter] The only dad I ever knew Was steady as a North Star glow Head of the house, kept our threads tied tight When the whole world wanted to blow Saturdays at the park, his laugh cut through the morning dew Bailed us out when we messed up But never let us cut corners or be untrue [Pre-Chorus] [electric guitar arpeggios] He taught respect like it was a song we had to learn to sing Morals carved in every word, priorities that made our roots cling But when the doctor said cancer, I felt my chest split in two The man who built me from the ground up Was gonna be taken, what could I do? [Chorus] [full band enters, driving drums, vocal harmonies] The only dad I ever knew, the one who showed me how to stand tall (stand tall) Now there's a black hole where his light used to fall I wasted a whole year running scared, too weak to look him in the eye Now all the what-ifs are ghosts that haunt me Never gonna say goodbye [Instrumental Break] [acoustic guitar strumming] [Verse 2] [drums drop to a light pulse] I was in school out at Pickens when Mom called Voice thin as a thread She said, "Granddad don't sound right," my blood turned cold, my hands went dead I dialed his number, heard his voice, and knew the day had come Packed my bags, screamed for an ambulance Raced back the way he was from [Bridge] [full band builds intensity] Leeds hospital room, I held onto hope like a fading spark Till he turned to me and said, "Looks like this is the only way out, kiddo, mark my words" I cracked, ran out the door, couldn't let him see my tears Wished I spent that year with him, not hiding from my fears [Chorus] [heavy drums, soaring electric guitar] The only dad I ever knew, the one who showed me how to stand tall (stand tall) Now there's a black hole where his light used to fall I wasted a whole year running scared, too weak to look him in the eye Now all the what-ifs are ghosts that haunt me Never gonna say goodbye [Outro] [music softens, acoustic guitar and piano] Slept on the couch that night, dread coiled in my bones Tried to call Mom and Uncle, but the phone just moaned Cousin said no news, then Mom's call cut through the dark Said the reaper came quiet, took him, left our hearts torn apart Now I'm left empty, missing the man who made me who I am Every good thing in me is a piece of his plan I'll carry his voice in my chest till my last breath is due I'll always love you The only dad I ever knew [final acoustic guitar chord rings out]