he didn't have to be

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