Not by blood

Yeah, nine years back you walked through the door Didn’t have to

be the man we were all looking for Me and my three

sisters, you stepped up straight away Loved us like your own every

single day Then two little boys came,

part of you and Mum One was here one hour,

then he went back home He’d be seven now,

running round with his little brother who’s six You kept on pushing

even when life kicked No blood tie,

but you chose to stay That’s the realest kind of love anyway

You didn’t have to take the weight upon your shoulders Didn’t have

to love us when the days got colder But you showed up

every time, you never walked away

And that’s why I call you Coney today

But I class you as my dad to strangers every single day

Nine years strong and you’re still right here Stepped up for four

kids when you didn’t have to care Me and three girls,

then your two little boys One watching from above,

one making all the noise You didn’t give me life but you

gave me your time The best kind of father that I could

ever find Yeah they say stepdad but that don’t mean a thing

You’re my Dad full stop,

and I’m proud to sing

(yeah, proud to sing)

I seen the way you held it down when you lost your

son

Smiled for us all even though your heart was done

You make sure he’s remembered,

never left behind And his little brother six years old,

always on your mind You taught me what a real man is,

how to stand up tall How to love a woman,

how to catch when she might fall You could’ve left,

could’ve walked the easy road But you built a home and you

carried the load

At ten years old you stepped into my life Now at nineteen

I know you’re the reason we got by

You didn’t have to take the weight upon your shoulders

Didn’t have to love us when the days got colder But you

showed up

every time, you never walked away

And that’s why I call you Coney today

But I class you as my dad to strangers every single day

People say “step” like it’s second best

But you’ve been the only dad I’ve ever had,

and that’s blessed

Nine years of choices — every single one was us Through the

grief, through the hard days,

through the trust

And your first son,

he’s part of this family too Forever your boy,

forever watching over you

Nine years strong and you’re still right here Stepped up for four

kids when you didn’t have to care

Me and three girls,

then your two little boys One watching from above,

one making all the noise You didn’t give me life but you

gave me your time The best kind of father that I could

ever find Yeah they say stepdad but that don’t mean a thing

You’re my Dad full stop,

and I’m proud to sing (Dad full stop,

yeah)

Not by blood… but you chose us

Nine years on, you’re all the dad we need

Thanks, Coney (thanks, Coney)