Story Behind The Song
I was witness to the story in this song. It was my Father-in-Law. I shared my story with my cowriter and we began a 2 year journey writing and re-writing this song. I think it turned out pretty good.
Song Description
Growing up he worked 7 days a week, worked every holiday for the OT pay and spent his 2 week vacations working on household chores. Spent maybe a little too much time stopping to grab a cold one with the boys. He provided all the essentials for his family, but left all the emotional stuff for his wife.
Now he has retired and you are grown up, married and having the first grandchild. Once he lays eyes on her it's all over. He now becomes the one spending his free time with the grandchild, playing with her and doing all the things he didn't think he could do with his own children.
| Song Length |
3:50 |
Genre |
Country - Americana, Country - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Pleased, Troubled |
Subject |
Change, Father |
| Similar Artists |
Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Not My Old Man
Brehmer / Larsen
He was whiskers in the sink when I was growing up
Burned coffee cigarette butts
A Ford diesel firing up
At first light of dawn....... he was gone
Garage door closing late at night
I'd watch from bed until the hallway light
Stretched its fingers across my floor
Hear that staircase groan..... he was home
I could a smelled the Kessler's on his breath
He never got close enough, not my old man
He was the roof on the house the car in the drive
Potatoes on the plate at supper time
The coat on my back the book in my hand
But never the face I'd see when I looked in the stands
Not my old man
I swore it'd be different with a kid of my own
She stole my heart the day she was born
I figured about all her grandpa would be
Was a name on her family tree...... I was wrong
I answered the door on her birthday expecting to see
Anyone else not my old man
He'd been the roof on the house car in the drive
Potatoes on the plate at supper time
A stone faced scowl I thought never gave a damn
Damn that couldn't be him, those balloons in his hand
Not my old man
I watched that little girl chip away at his heart
Now he's the neck she hugs bursting through the door
The horse she rides across the living room floor
The name she screams when a fish finally bites
The face right next to me when she looks in the stands
No he don't miss a game
Not my old man