College

I packed your boxes slow this morning

Tried to make the daylight last

Folded years between your sweaters

Every memory moving fast

There’s the ribbon from your first dance

There’s the picture missing teeth

There’s the note you wrote in crayon

Saying “Daddy and me”

Now you’re going away to college

Chasing dreams beyond our street

With your whole life in the front seat

And the world beneath your feet

I’m so proud it almost breaks me

Smiling through the tears I hide

You’re going away to college

But you’ll always be my child

I still hear your footsteps running

Down the hall on new years Eve

Still see pigtails in the doorway

Still feel small hands tug my sleeve

I taught you how to ride a bicycle

How to drive and how to play

But nobody ever warned me

How to let you drive away

Now you’re going away to college

Chasing dreams beyond our street

With your whole life in the front seat

And the world beneath your feet

I’m so proud it almost breaks me

Smiling through the tears I hide

You’re going away to college

But you’ll always be my child

If the nights get long and lonely

If the road gets hard to climb

Call me anytime you need me

I’ll be there every time

Go and learn the life that waits you

Make mistakes and make them right

And if home feels far behind you

Look for me in every light

Now you’re going away to college

Chasing dreams beyond our street

With your whole life in the front seat

And the world beneath your feet

I’m so proud it almost breaks me

Smiling through the tears I hide

You’re going away to college

But you’ll always be my child

Yeah, you’re going away to college

But you’ll always be my child