Send ’Em on Down the Road

[Verse 1]

He didn't ask, he didn't pry

He just held the ice that covered my black eye

And when that girl, she broke my heart

We just threw that baseball back and forth 'til dark

And when I started playin' guitar and didn't have a clue

He wanted to protect me, but somehow my father knew, that

You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em

You can help them find their wings, but you can't fly for 'em

'Cause if they're not free to fall, then they're not free at all

And though you just can't bear the thought of letting go

You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off

And you send 'em on down the road

A little kiss on a skinned-up knee

From playin' soccer, ridin' bikes, and climbin' trees

And when bad dreams filled their heads

I chased the monsters out from underneath their beds

I guess I always knew those days would end

But the hardest thing I've ever learned has been

You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em

You can help them find their wings, but you can't fly for 'em

'Cause if they're not free to fall, then they're not free at all

And though you just can't bear the thought of letting go

You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off

And you send 'em on down the road

You can cry for 'em, live and die for 'em

And even though it's gonna break your heart, you let 'em go

You pick 'em up, you dust 'em off

You pull them close, and you pray to God

To send 'em on down the road

Down the road