High Valley - A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How) Lyrics

For the longest time I guess I thought he didn’t give a damn|Hard to read and hard to please yeah that was my ol’ man|On the day I left for college, it was nothing new|We never had that heart to heart he had too much to do| |Chorus: He checked the air in my tires|The belts and all the spark plug wires|Said when the hell’s the last time you had this oil changed|And as I (we) pulled out the drive|He said be sure and call your Mom sometimes|And I didn't hear it then but I hear it now | (and I wish I knew then what I know now) |He was saying I love you|The only way he knew how| |Verse: A hundred-twenty thousand miles and six 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| |Chorus: And put new 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 ain’t up to code|And that circuit box is gonna overload|I didn't hear it then but I hear it now|He was saying I love you|The only way he knew how| |Bridge: Last Sunday we all gathered for his sixty fifth birthday|And I knew he'd stiffen up, but I hugged him anyway|When it was finally time to say goodbye I knew what was next|Just like he always does right before we left| | (Repeat 1st Chorus) |