[Verse 1]
If Daddy's went to college, he'd be a different man
He's working for the mill, got called up for Vietnam
Whatever that war did to him used to keep him up at night
Smoking in the kitchen 'til the first gray morning light

Mama left him years ago, didn't understand
Just got tired of being married to a shadow of a man
Banging on the front door, railing at the world
How could I have known, I was just a little girl

[Chorus]
And I used to wish his love for us
Was bigger than his thirst
But you can't fix what's broken
That's not how love works

[Verse 2]
Daddy lives alone now, I go over once a week
If I didn't bring him dinner I don't think that he would eat
Sissy hasn't seen him in six or seven years
Some days he asks about her when he's thinking clear

I take him to the doctor down at the VA
It's a miracle that he hasn't burned his liver clean away
He used to have his drink of choice: whiskey, beer, or gin
These days it don't matter, he'll get numb on anything

[Chorus]
And I used to wish his love for us
Was bigger than his thirst
But you can't fix what's broken
That's not how love works

[Bridge]
I spent years hanging on
To the bones of everything that he did wrong
[Verse 3]
I don't like to get my hopes up Daddy comes down
About once a year he sobers up but he always lets me down
This time it was Christmas, said he couldn't miss it
He showered and he shaved, showed up two hours late

[Chorus]
And I used to wish his love for us
Was bigger than his thirst
But you can't fix what's broken
That's not how love works