He didn’t have to be    (video)

 

    G - C - G - C

 

                  G                                                      - C

1. When a single mom goes out on a date with        somebody new,

        D                                                      C           G

    it always winds up feeling more like a job interview.

             G                                              C

    My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone

                          - D                                            C                        G

    who wouldn't      find out about me and then turn around and run.

 

         G                                             C

2. I met the man I call my dad when I was 5 years old,

           D                                                       C                  G

    he took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go.

        G                                            C

    A few months later I remember lying there in bed,

                D                                                   C                               G

    I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes.

        

                - Am                                      D

And then           all of a sudden, oh, it seemed so strange to me

               G                                                     C

how we went from something’s missing to a family.

Am                                              D                                       Em    - C

    Looking back all I can say about all the things he did for me,

  Am                                        D                                      G   - C

is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.

 

         G                                                 C

3. I met the girl who's now my wife about three years ago,

           D                                                   C                            G

    we had the perfect marriage, but we wanted something more.

              G                                               C

    Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends,

                    D                                                     C                   G

    crowded round the nursery window as they bring the baby in.

 

                - Am                                      D

And now           all of a sudden, oh, it seemed so strange to me

                    G                                                     C

how we've gone from somethings missing to a family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Am                                                        D

    Looking through the glass I think about the man

                                     Em    - C

who's standing next to me,

     Am                                        D                                      G

and I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.

 

+  G - C - Am - D

 

  Am                                              D                                        Em    - C

+     Looking back all I can say about all the things he did for me,

     Am                                         D                                     G

    is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.

  Am                                         D                                     G    - C

    I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.

                         D                   G     - C

    Because he didn’t have to be,

                           D                   G     - C

    you know, he didn't have to be.

 

+  G - C - G - C (2x) ....

 

(orig. = capo 2nd)    (Brad Paisley)