I've Never Lived This Long Before

(album: Home - 1993)

I've met all my heroes and shook all the hands
Of all I wanted to meet
I've kissed all the women that once were the girls
I dreamed about falling to sleep

I've looked up the bullies from grade and high school
And gave them a piece of my mind
I've even looked up some old teachers I had
And 'pologized for being unkind

I've talked to my mama and told her I knew
I hadn't done all that I could
She just smiled and kissed me and said after all
You know prayers answered late are still good

And daddy there's things I'd love to tell you
But you died 25 years ago
'Cause just now I'm learning a few of the things
I thought for years you didn't know

And there's nothing I've done that I wish I've done less
But there's a few I wish I'd done more
And the thing I find hardest to believe is I'm here
'Cause I've never lived this long before

I find myself reading the Bible more now than I did
Say ten years ago
And I find myself looking at young girls and thinking
That's somebody's daughter you know

And what does it mean when they call me Mister
And say things I don't comprehend
And to tell you the truth more often to me
Their mama's look better than them

But there's one call I haven't brought myself to make
One mem'ry that I can't erase
I've still got the pictures that I can talk to
But I'm not up to go face to face

But maybe she's happy and Lord I hope so
And maybe her kids have kids of their own
But to me she'll always be a dance in the spring
And a mem'ry I can't leave alone

And there's nothing I've done that I wish I've done less
But there's a few I wish I'd done more
And the thing I find hardest to believe is I'm here
'Cause I've never lived this long before

So now that my life is laid out in order
I guess I'm ready to go
I'll find me a shade tree and build me a cabin
And watch the daffodils grow

But wait just a minute if you'll excuse me
I just saw someone I used to know
And I'll come back tomorrow and finish this chorus
Da da da...

And there's nothing I've done that I wish I've done less
But there's a few I wish I'd done more
And the thing I find hardest to believe is I'm here
'Cause I've never lived this long before

I've never lived this long before...