The Almost Man lyrics

As my father lay dying I was holding his hand

He said, "Son, there's one thing you must understand

All my life I've been an almost man

Don't make the same mistake as me

'Cause I never got to drive a real fast car

Or get crazy drunk in a downtown bar

And I never even got to go that far

There was so much I wanted to see"

When he made it back from that terrible war

Things were going to be different than they'd been before

'Cause he had a family and a lot to live for

He got a job and he settled down

He worked real hard to keep the family tight

Everyday he did what he thought was right

But he never got ahead and try as he might

He was always just breaking even

And before he knew it, it was all too late

His time had passed and time can't wait

There are some things in life that you just can't beat

It's a fight you're never gonna win

When he died his ashes were sent through the post

And I thought about what he would have wanted the most

So I went out and bought that real fast car and I damned the cost

I strapped him in and we hit the highway

Hey old man, now you know how it feels

Isn't she just the greatest set of wheels?

She's a bright red beauty of cool polish steel

And we're gonna turn some heads today

And we drove like the wind down to London town

We got crazy drunk and started falling down

And when a new day broke and we came around

I took him down to look at the sea

We stood on Brighton Beach, where it all began

Where my father's son became a man

And I said to him, "Now you can understand

What you have meant to me

'Cause I got you that ride in a real fast car

We got crazy drunk in a downtown bar

And we made it together and we've come this far

And I did it all for you"

So I'll take that ride, when it's given for free

And I'll be the man he always wanted to be

And if somehow he's looking down on me

I know he'll smile and he'll say, "You did it Al"

Let's take that drive in a real fast car

Let's get crazy drunk in every downtown bar

Let's get on the road and follow that golden star

And take it all the way to the end

Let's get on the road and follow that golden star

And take it all the way to the end

• Artist:Allan Taylor
• Album:Leaving At Dawn [2009]