[00:25.63]As my father lay dying I was holding his hand
[00:34.13]He said "Son, there's one thing you must understand
[00:42.13]All my life I've been an Almost man
[00:49.86]Don't make the same mistake as me
[00:52.63]
[00:54.63]'Cause I never got to drive a real fast car
[01:00.56]Or get crazy drunk in a downtown bar
[01:06.81]I never even got to go that far
[01:13.31]And there was so much I wanted to see"
[01:18.44]
[01:22.37]When he made it back from that terrible war
[01:29.06]Things were going to be different than they'd been before
[01:35.00]'Cause he had a family and a lot to live for
[01:40.93]He got a job and he settled down
[01:45.37]
[01:47.35]He worked real hard to keep the family tight
[01:53.43]Everyday he did what he thought was right
[01:59.74]But he never got ahead and try as he might
[02:05.87]He was always just breaking even
[02:10.62]
[02:15.24]And before he knew it, it was all too late
[02:21.24]His time had passed and time can't wait
[02:27.23]There are some things in life you just can't beat
[02:33.61]It's fight you're never going to win
[02:37.80]
[02:39.86]When he died his ashes were sent through the post
[02:45.86]And I thought about what he would have wanted the most
[02:52.05]So I went out and bought that real fast car and I damned the cost
[02:57.83]I strapped him in and we hit the highway
[03:02.67]
[03:08.05]Hey old man now you know how it feels
[03:14.42]Isn't she just the greatest set of wheels
[03:19.67]She's a bright red beauty of cool polished steel
[03:25.74]And we're going to turn some heads today
[03:30.17]
[03:32.11]We drove like the wind down to London town
[03:38.11]And we got crazy drunk and started falling down
[03:44.48]And when a new day broke and we came around
[03:50.04]I took him down to look at the sea
[03:54.98]
[03:59.89]We stood on Brighton beach, where it all began
[04:05.81]Where my father's son became a man
[04:12.07]And I said to him, "Now you can understand
[04:18.82]What you have meant to me
[04:22.64]
[04:24.39]'Cause I got you that ride in a real fast car
[04:30.39]And we got crazy drunk in a downtown bar
[04:36.76]And we made it together and we've come this far
[04:42.95]And I did it all for you"
[04:47.39]
[04:52.07]So I'll take that ride when it's given for free
[05:00.95]And I'll be the man he always wanted to be
[05:08.76]And if, somewhere, he's looking down on me
[05:14.88]I know he'll smile and he'll say "You did it, Al"
[05:19.32]
[05:21.44]Let's take that drive in a real fast car
[05:27.38]Let's get crazy drunk in every downtown bar
[05:33.69]Let's get on the road and follow that golden star
[05:39.43]And take it all the way to the end
[05:45.94]Let's get on the road and follow that golden star
[05:52.19]And take it all the way to the end
[05:59.57]