The Bench Outside

It's three o'clock on Friday afternoon

The yellow school buses line up in a row I wrap my

old brown jacket tight against the cold And sit down on the

splintered wood we know

I've got a little brown paper bag right here

With the chocolate milk you always love to drink

And I'll be waiting on this bench

No matter what the calendar may say

Yeah, I'll be waiting on this bench

To watch you run and play (ohhh)

One rainy day the playground cleared away You stopped and saw me

sitting in the pour You ran across the gravel with your heavy

bag And asked me what I was waiting for I smiled and

said my love don't need a date

I'm always your dad,

even when it's late

Now years have flown and you've got a girl of your own

And we're standing by that same old schoolyard gate

And you looked at me with tears inside your eyes And said

you finally understand the wait

That quiet love was the strongest thing I gave

And we are sitting on this bench

Watching your little girl run and play

Yeah, we are sitting on this bench Because love don't walk away

(no, it never walked away)

Just a wooden bench under the autumn sky

Love never stopped showing up (mmmmm)