He sat down, picked up the phone
Said Boy, I'm your old man

He touched the glass between the two
As if to shake his hand

The boy, he didn't budge

Not even so much as a blink.

The man said Oh come on, boy

Better late than never, don't you think?
He said I read it in the paper,
Can't believe your twenty-one.

And I can't believe some son of mine
Could do the things I hear you've done.
He went on like some big hero

Who flew in to save the day.

And the boy said If you're here
To steer me right, man, it's too late.
You had to be there

And I'm talking from day one.

That's the only time a man
Should talk through glass to his new son
And you'd have to go back

And teach me how when I was nine

Cause my momma couldn't throw a ball
Even if she had the time.
But I should been learning how to fish

Instead of learning how to smoke.
I bet if you'd whooped my tail

I'd never thought it was a joke.
He said sometimes the will for doing wrong
Is way too strong for any momma's prayers.

You had to be there.

The man said Boy I'm sorry
That you hate me like you do.

The boy said Dry it up man.
We ain't making this 'bout you.
It's 'bout a teenage girl against the world
Who was left there high and dry.

About a kid who might have stood .

A whole lot better shot at life.
But you had to be there

And I'm talking from day one.

That's the only time a man
Should talk through glass to new his son
And you'd have to go back

And teach me how when I was nine
Cause my momma couldn't throw a ball

Even if she had the time.
I should been learning how to fish

Instead of learning how to smoke.

I bet if you'd whooped my tail
I'd never thought it was a joke.
He said sometimes the will for doing wrong
Is way too strong for any momma's prayers.

You had to be there.

The boy stood up, hung phone up the
He said They say I'm out of time.

And it hit the man, right then and there

My God, son, so am I.