He leans back from his desk, rubs the back of his neck
The stress takes effect, grips the bridge of his nose
Squints while he's showin' emotion he normally won't
At fifty six, he re-evaluates, possibly regrettin'
Some decisions that he's madeBlack is turnin' gray, patches of his age
Reflectin' from the glasses, a pass of every page
Passionately day reads, readin' on occasion
Dreamin' of the day when he could do the same thingHe's always wanted to write, that's all he's wanted in life
With two daughters, a son and a remarkable wife
He's in a bind, he's has to provide
A family is relyin' on a Milli to surviveHis father died at fifty six
So he's well aware how vital a father figure is
How big of a responsibility it is
To be a good husband and care for your kids
Never miss an event, helpin' them with homework
Discipline to prevent things when they're olderHis only son is only twenty one
And focus as a poet has only just begun
Papa isn't dumb, he understands what this means
His dream is my dream, my dream is his dreamI close my eyes and I can see his dream
The sacrifices he made for me, his dream
Put it aside for his family, his dream
Yeah, so I'ma keep it alive, yeahAnd so he targeted to be the dream guardian
Guardin' it from anythin' and anyone who's harmin' it
But in his heart he knows the hardest thing about it is
Givin' up on his dream to be all about his kidsAs he kisses the lips of the Mrs
For twenty four years, goin' on the twenty fifth
He thinks to himself, this alone is the wealth
That's greater then what's bought
And that's sold on the shelfSometimes a dream is all that we have
We have to continue to dream
'Cause once it is lost amongst other thoughts
Then what really are we? What are we?I close my eyes and I can see his dream
The sacrifices he made for me, his dream
Put it aside for his family, his dream
Yeah, so I'ma keep it alive, yeahSo he sits back at his desk
Crackin' his knuckles and back of his neck
Faxin' a paper displayin' his name
On another application explainin' the mainThings they should know but the things that they don't
All the things that distinguish him as an adult
And over the phone he can never expose
The roll that he chose, the roll in his homeAnd at home he is a leader, a father
He'll prove it by usin' his son and his daughters
In their life he'll be playin' the part of
The one who inspires, the one we admireHis only son is only twenty one
And focus as a poet has only just begun
Papa isn't dumb, he understands what this means
His dream is my dream, my dream is his dreamI close my eyes and I can see his dream
The sacrifices he made for me, his dream
Put it aside for his family, his dream
Yeah, so I'ma keep it alive, yeah