To See You Smile

Dad Voice (low & worn)

Yeah…

If you hear this one day, son…

Just know every scar had your name written in hope.

⸻

I was raised where the cold nights bit,

Learned real fast life don’t play fair with kids,

Had holes in my shoes and storms in my chest,

Still told my mama “don’t worry, I’m blessed.”

I carried anger like a loaded gun,

Tried to outrun pain but it always won,

Every broken road left blood on my feet,

But I kept walkin’ ‘cause quitting ain’t me.

I seen friends disappear into bottles and smoke,

Seen proud men fall and strong hearts broke,

Had nights I cried with my back to the wall,

Prayin’ to God not to lose it all.

Then you showed up with your little hands,

And suddenly I finally understood a man,

‘Cause the world could cut me down all day—

Long as you smiled, I’d survive the pain.

⸻

I’ll bleed through the storm just to keep you warm,

Fight every battle till my soul feels torn,

Life hit hard, son, harder than hell,

But I carried that weight so you’d never tell.

If my back breaks, if my heart turns blue,

I’d still walk through fire just to carry you,

Every scar I hide, every tear I bury—

Was all so your world felt less heavy.

⸻

One day you’ll learn people change like seasons,

Some say “I love you” but don’t got reasons,

You’ll trust somebody and they’ll let you drown,

Smile in your face while they run you down.

There’ll be nights your chest feels hollow,

Dreams get heavy and the dark thoughts follow,

You’ll stare at ceilings at 3 AM,

Wonderin’ if you’re enough again.

But son, listen close when your soul feels weak,

Real strength ain’t loud—it don’t gotta speak,

It’s gettin’ back up when the world says quit,

Still showin’ love after all of it.

And if life ever leaves you shattered apart,

Remember your old man carried the same dark,

I survived those roads so you could stand tall,

And never feel alone through it all.

⸻

Dad…

I never knew the battles you hid,

Never saw the pain behind how hard you lived,

You wore those scars like armor plates,

Still gave me love when your soul had breaks.

You made sure I laughed while you fought the rain,

Taught me real men can survive pain,

And now I see every sacrifice made—

Was just your way of keepin’ me safe.

⸻

Father:

I’d walk through hell just to hear you laugh,

Even if life kept cuttin’ me in half,

Son:

Now I carry your lessons inside my veins,

Turnin’ your hurt into strength from pain.

Together:

Generations scarred but we still stand strong,

Turnin’ broken roads into battle songs,

And if this world ever steals your light—

Remember your dad spent his whole damn life…

Just tryin’ to see you happy tonight.

⸻

Father (spoken softly)

You were the reason I kept goin’, son…

Never forget that.