[Verse 1]
He didn't ask, he didn't pry
He just held the ice that covered my black eye
And when that girl, she broke my heart
We just threw that baseball back and forth 'til dark

[Pre-Chorus]
And when I started playin' guitar and didn’t have a clue
He wanted to protect me but somehow my father knew, that

[Chorus]
You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em
You can help them find their wings but you can't fly for 'em
'Cause if they're not free to fall, then they're not free at all
And though you just can't bare the thought of letting go
You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off
And send 'em on down the road

[Verse 2]
A little kiss on a skinned up knee
From playin' soccer, ridin' bikes, and climbin' trees
And when bad dreams filled their heads
I chased the monsters out from underneath their beds

[Pre-Chorus]
I guess I always knew those days would end
But the hardest thing I've ever learned has been
[Chorus]
You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em
You can help them find their wings but you can't fly for 'em
'Cause if they're not free to fall, then they're not free at all
And though you just can't bare the thought of letting go
You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off
And send 'em on down the road

[Outro]
You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em
And even though it’s gonna break your heart, you let 'em go
You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off
You pull them close and you pray to God
To send ‘em on down the road
Down the road
Down the road