He was a simple man, just trying to survive
Now it's too late to say thanks, to a man no longer alive
He gave us food to eat and clothes on our backs
A house with a worm bed, located just across the tracks

It wasn't anything fancy, just four rooms he built by hand
We never gave him praise or credit no "I love you" for this man
My dad died at the age of seventy-five
And I never told him that I loved him
At least, not while he was alive

Today I went back, to the place where I used to live
But the old house was falling down; it had nothing more to give
I was standing in the middle of the present and the past
It brought back fond memories of a time that didn't last

Suddenly I stepped inside of my mind, and I saw a boy I once knew
I noticed as I looked him over he was looking me over too
He said you're a man now it's time to move along
But I longed to be that boy again, and I longed to be back home

The front porch had fallen off, a broken window or two
The front door was standing open, so I just walked on thru
Some of the furniture was missing; the old place looked really bad
Suddenly, I had the courage to say, I love you dad

Then my mind begin to drift, back to a time of long ago
Suddenly, I thought I heard my dad's voice
Saying son "It's Too Late. You must let it go
It's too late to make amends
You can't change what's already done
Don't carry a burden over the past
Or your life will be no fun."

I know it's too late to say I love you; to a man I miss a lot
My dad never told me that he loved me, if he did, I forgot
I still consider myself very lucky, at least my dad stayed around
A lot of kids lost their dad, some deserted their family, some left town
So I'll just go on with my life, till it comes to an end
'Cause I know my dad loved me, and I know, I loved him.

I know it's too late for me, but it may not be for you
So tell your dad how much you love him, because his days may be few.
It's too late to say I love you; to a man I miss a lot.

©James Sanders 
Used With Permission
All Rights Reserved By Author
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