He Didn’t Have to Be
by Brad Paisley
written by ?
song number: 25
youtube link: here

When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she’d ever meet someone
Who wouldn’t find out about me and then turn around and run

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she’d say yes

And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something’s missing
To a family
Lookin’ back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I’m at least half the dad
That he didn’t have to be

I met the girl that’s now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin’ more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded ‘round the nursery window as they bring the baby in

And now all of a sudden
It seemed so strange to me
How we’ve gone from something’s missing
To a family
Lookin’ through the glass I think about the man
That’s standin’ next to me
And I hope I’m at least half the dad
That he didn’t have to be

Lookin’ back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I’m at least half the dad
That he didn’t have to be

Yeah, I hope I’m at least half the dad
That he didn’t have to be
Because he didn’t have to be
You know he didn’t have to be

_{This song hits the quarter-mark! Only 3/4 to go!}

There are a lot of “Kings of Country”, but in my opinion, Brad Paisley is quickly becoming the best. Everything this guy touches turns to gold and I haven’t disliked a single song he’s released. (Celebrity, Alcohol, We Danced, Mud on the Tires, Who Needs Pictures, Me Neither…....)

This, though, is my favorite, and when I started listening to country, was one of the first songs I recall hearing on the radio and really liking.

(Odd, because my mom always said how horrible and whiney country music is… All I hear is a wonderful story in song form.)

And what a video! The little boy is SO CUTE!