By the time I made it home You were already in bed Chubby cheek pressed to your pillow By a bedtime book you'd read And I noticed that you looked older Than you did yesterday You've been growin' 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 those 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 play I missed a lot of smiles While I was away And 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 your Daddy cared '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 missin' me too While I was away And 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 your Daddy cared 'Cause the hardest part about workin' hard ain't the bills I gotta pay It's you growin' up while I was away You know the hardest part about workin' hard