by Harry Nilsson
Years ago, I knew a man,
He was my mother's biggest fan,
We used to walk beside the sea,
And he told me how life would be
When I grew up to be a man.
Years ago, we used to play,
He used to laugh when I ran away,
But when I fell and hurt my knee,
He would run to comfort me,
And the pain would go away.
Years ago, I knew a boy,
He was his daddy's pride and joy,
But when the daddy went away
It was such a rainy day
That he brought out all his toys.
How the momma did explain,
Trying to take away the pain,
But, he just couldn't understand
That his father was not a man
And it all was just a game.
The years have passed and so have I,
Making it hard for me to cry,
And if and when I have a son,
Let it all be said and done,
Let the sadness pass him by.