Uncle, You Raised Me

[Verse 1]
You’d pull up grinning in that old red truck
Coffee in a thermos, bent Styrofoam cup
Said, “Come on kid, I’ll show you how it’s done”
From turning a wrench to throwing a line
Teaching me to drive by that county line sign
You laughed when I stalled, said, “Relax, we ain’t gotta run”
[Chorus]
Uncle, you raised me like I was your own
Put your big old hands on my shoulder, said, “You’re never alone”
Every bad day, every breakdown, you knew what to do
All that I am, I learned standing next to you
I miss you so much it hurts, but I know where you are
You’re up in heaven with your mom and dad
Watching over me from afar
[Verse 2]
You’d crack a bad joke at the worst right time
Turn my tears into a crooked smile
Say, “Life’s too short to stay mad, kid, let it go”
You showed me how to shake a man’s hand right
Say “yes ma’am,” “thank you,” kiss your folks goodnight
How to be brave when it’s hard to let someone know
[Chorus]
Uncle, you raised me like I was your own
Put your big old hands on my shoulder, said, “You’re never alone”
Every bad day, every breakdown, you knew what to do
All that I am, I learned standing next to you
I miss you so much it hurts, but I know where you are
You’re up in heaven with your mom and dad
Watching over me from afar
[Bridge]
I talk to you driving down that same dirt road (yeah)
Picture you laughing, saying, “Look how you’ve grown”
And I swear some nights when the stars shine through
I feel them, and you, and I just say “thank you”
[Chorus]
Uncle, you raised me like I was your own
Put your big old hands on my shoulder, said, “You’re never alone”
Every bad day, every breakdown, you knew what to do
All that I am, I learned standing next to you
I miss you so much, but I know where you are
You’re up in heaven with your mom and dad
Still teaching me, from afar

country, Warm modern country ballad with male vocals, gentle acoustic guitar and soft piano foundation. Verses stay intimate and story-driven, light brushed drums and subtle pedal steel. Chorus swells with harmony stacks and a sturdy kick, then drops back to just guitar and voice on the last line for a lump-in-the-throat moment.