"While I Was Away" lyrics

By the time I made it home, you were already in bed
Chubby cheek pressed to your a pillow by a bedtime book you read
And I noticed that you looked older than you did yesterday
You've been growing up while I was away

For every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I'm on the road, I'm praying that you know your mama cares
Cause the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's you growing 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 mama took, the two of you had a ball
And it made me glad but a little sad to see those games you played
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 road, I'm praying that you know your daddy cares
Cause the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's you growing up while I was away

I found your note in the kitchen, it's a real work of art
A stick man holding your stick hand with "Mama" written in a heart
And it got me good cause I've understood just what you meant to say
You've been missing me too while I was away

For every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I'm on the road, I'm praying that you know your mama cares
Cause the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's you growing up while I was away

You know the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
It's everything I missed while I was away