You were the bright young man who swept her off her feet The high school class ring soon became a wedding band And you sailed off to sail the seas for Uncle Sam But they say it was the demon in the bottle That took you far away never to return And you never knew your son would be my father And now sometimes I think about you and I wonder If I could talk to you what words would I choose And I would say I wish you would've stayed But most of all I would say I forgive you I read how hard you tried to break free from the chains I know we all could say how you should have done better And wear our anger and resentment like a fetter But that's why I would say this to you if I could And I would say I wish you would've stayed But most of all I would say I forgive you She's been my hero and a treasure to us all I know you'd be proud of the way your name's been carried These are things I would love to tell you if I could And I would say I wish you would've stayed But most of all I would say I forgive you |