One Last Beer With You

An original emotional pop ballad about an adult son who understands his late father differently after becoming a father himself. The song holds the regret of teenage distance, the ordinary rituals that never happened, and the wish to share one last beer with the man who kept reaching for him.

Inspired by the original Reddit post: "Hi Dad" on r/grief

[Verse 1] I was sixteen, I shut my door You stood outside and asked once more If I would sit and tell you why I said I needed time alone that night You never made your love a fight You left the porch light burning bright I thought that growing up meant leaving I did not know what I was leaving

[Pre-Chorus] Now my children fill the hallway And I hear your patient voice Every year I understand you Every year I lose the choice

[Chorus] One last beer with you At the table by the sink I'd tell you all the years I wasted Trying not to feel a thing My youngest has your eyes now And a book against his chest I know you better now I'm a father I just wish you'd seen me like this

[Verse 2] We could have counted coins for hours Built those model planes to fly Changed the oil beside the driveway While the summer passed us by You were quiet, smiling, steady Always proud and never loud I was busy being distant You were reaching through the crowd

[Pre-Chorus] Now my children ask about you I show them every photograph One can carry your eyes But no picture brings you back

[Chorus] One last beer with you At the table by the sink I'd tell you all the years I wasted Trying not to feel a thing My youngest has your eyes now And a book against his chest I know you better now I'm a father I just wish you'd seen me like this

[Bridge] I was beside you in the hospital When you took your final breath I still talk to you in traffic When I have something left to tell Your first grandchild got to meet you Your second never got the chance I'd trade every tomorrow For one more ordinary afternoon

[Final Chorus] One last beer with you At the table by the sink I'd tell you I was scared of needing The very love you tried to give My youngest has your eyes now He is silly, sweet, and bright I know you better now I'm a father I just wish I could have told you right

[Outro] Hi Dad, I miss you I love you, that's still true One last beer with you And one more afternoon