Games That Daddys Play

(album: Somebody Somewhere - 1976)

He put his arms around my shoulder
With a voice that sounded older
He said, mom I've got something on my mind
Now I don't want to bother you
But I sure need to talk to you
If you could only spare a little time

And Mom, I hope you understand
How much I love and need you
I don't want to take this the wrong way
But don't you think I'm big enough
And old enough and strong enough
To play the games that daddys play

My friend Billy Parker's dad
Come by today to see me
And he wondered if I would like to go with him and Billy
On a hike and maybe camp out overnight
The way I've seen 'em do in picture shows

And there's one thing
I want to do and maybe if I ask him to
He'd sit and talk to me man to man
We'd only be gone overnight
And I could find out it's like
To play the games that daddys play

I quickly turned to hide the tears
From my son of seven years
He didn't know I'd read between the lines
He'd never really known his dad
And although he'd never asked
I knew exactly what was on his mind

I searched my mind in desperation
Six long years of seperation
Dimmed the words I knew I had to say
I hope you're never big enough
Or old enough or bold enough
To play the games that daddys play

I know you need and want his love
But son, you're the victim of
Another kind of game that daddys play