By the time I made it home
You were already in bed
Chubby cheek pressed to the pillow
By a bed time book you read
And I noticed that you looked older
Than you did yesterday
You've been growing up
While I was away

You made a pile of leaves in the front yard
I guess it's already fall
By the look of them pictures your momma took
The two of you had a ball
And it made me glad, but a little sad
To see those games you played
I missed a lot of smiles
While I was away

For every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I'm on the go I'm prayin' that you know that your daddy cares
'Cause the hardest part about workin' hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's you growin' up while I was away

And I found your note in the kitchen
It's a real work of art
A stickman holding your stick hand with "Daddy" written in a heart
And it got me good 'cause I understood just what you meant to say
You've been missing me too
While I Was Away

And for every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
For every day I'm on the go I'm prayin' that you know your daddy cares
'Cause the hardest part about workin' hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's you growin' up while I was away

No the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's everything that I missed
While I was away