This is a rewrite of my June version. I rewrote the second verse of this and tweaked the chorus a bit. Dale did the new vocal. My friend Steve Kreis suggested I needed to keep the chorus more consistent because I had used Dad and Father’s in the June version. He also suggested that I focus more on my dad, not about dads in general. I drove by our old house on Jackson St. last week and knew that was a big item, of course grandkids, and just thinking about conversations we "might" have had. I guess I punted on the second verse earlier. Now it’s about the tough stuff, the grandchildren, and things we never finished. All I know is Momma songs come easier than Dad songs.
I used to work with Dad; sometimes he’d take me out of school
By the time I was eleven, I could use most any tool
He taught me how to frame a wall and how to hang a door
I saw how much loved my Mom and five kids he adored
MY DAD WAS A CARPENTER AND TAUGHT ME HOW TO BUILD
I LEARNED BY WATCHING HIM—SOMETIMES I SEE HIM STILL
DADS TEACH SONS MORE THAN WORK AND HOW TO BE A MAN
NOW THAT I’M A DAD—I THINK I UNDERSTAND
If Dad had lived we would have finished that house on Jackson Street And I know of a couple of grandkids that he’d sure love to meet He’d know his grandson serves in the Army just like his Grandpa And maybe we could take a walk and he’d say son I’m so proud CHORUS Bridge It’s hard to believe God called Dad home more than forty years ago When I look back on all I’ve built I know I wasn’t working alone CHORUS Tag I used to work with Dad...
My son, Aubrey C. Hanson 4th ID 64th US Army
My special thanks to Dale Crockett for singing this song, we adopted some of the melody and chords from a song I did earlier, Curly Let's Go Fishing, and I would not have this song without Dale to do it. I could barely sing any of the scratch and truthfully shed a lot of tears writing it. Thanks Dale.