He Didn’t Have to Be

When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new It always winds up feeling more like a job interview My mama used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go A few months later I remember lying there in bed I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes And then all of a sudden, ah, it seemed so strange to me How we went from something's missing to a family Lookin' back all I can say about all the things he did for me Is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be I met the girl that's now my wife 'bout three years ago We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in And now all of a sudden, ah, it seemed so strange to me How we had gone from something's missing to a family Lookin' through the glass I think about the man that's standing next to me And I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be And lookin' back all I can say about all the things he did for me Is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be Because he didn't have to be You know he didn't have to be