Watching You

Album: If You're Going Through Hell (2006)
Charted: 36
Play Video
  • Driving through town, just my boy and me
    With a Happy Meal in his booster seat
    Knowing that he couldn't have the toy
    'Til his nuggets were gone
    A green traffic light turned straight to red
    I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath
    His fries went a flying and his orange drink covered his lap
    Well, then my four year old said a four letter word
    It started with "S" and I was concerned
    So I said, "Son, now where did you learn to talk like that?"

    He said, "I've been watching you, dad, ain't that cool?
    I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
    And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
    We got cowboy boots and camo pants
    Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad?
    I wanna do everything you do
    So I've been watching you"

    We got back home, and I went to the barn
    I bowed my head, and I prayed real hard
    Said, "Lord, please help me help my stupid self"
    Then this side of bedtime later that night
    Turning on my son's Scooby Doo night light
    He crawled out of bed, and he got down on his knees
    He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
    Spoke to God like he was talkin' to a friend
    And I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to pray like that?"

    He said, "I've been watching you, dad, ain't that cool?
    I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
    And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
    We like fixing things and holding mama's hand
    Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we, dad?
    I wanna do everything you do
    So I've been watching you"

    With tears in my eyes, I wrapped him in a hug
    Said, "My little bear is growing up"
    And he said, "But when I'm big, I'll still know what to do"

    "'Cause I've been watching you, dad, ain't that cool?
    I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
    And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are
    By then I'll be strong as Superman
    We'll be just alike, hey, won't we, dad?
    When I can do everything you do
    'Cause I've been watching you"
    Hey, yeah, uh huh Writer/s: Brian White, Rodney Adkins, Steve Dean
    Publisher: Capitol CMG Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Linda R from Charlotte NcWonderful message for all of us parents!
  • Katie from Gainesville Floridai love this song. it is fantastic
  • Linda from California Love this song (watching you dad) and want to get that dong in a single for Christmas making it a surprise from his 2 year old son.
  • Ed And Lois May Ray from Plum,pa (outside Of Pittsburgh)Parents leave a legacy even if they don't realize that they are. Your song is great.
  • Eric from Yankton, Sdell first off i love this song its jsut like my nephue but now my son after my sister passed and mother cuz my dad was never around i was 10 when it happend and he were 3 and ever sence then we walk side by side and iv said a coupple works around him and hes said them and my girl friend has to and he calls us bothe mom and dad now im 18 hes 12 and were so happy togheer
  • Kailey from Presque Isle, MeThis song is about Rodney's boy Elijah who wants to be just like him. I love this song!!!
  • Aron from Brownsville, TxCountry is not boring or quickly forgotten.. everyone has their own opinions when it comes to music.. sorry thats how you feel about it.. This song is Awesome. I think its cool how his son wants to be just like him, and i can relate to it.
  • Mark from Byrdstown, TnThis guy is from just down the road from where I live.His stuff is like most other so called country today....boring and quickly forgotten.
  • Jess from Harrisburg, Pai LOVE this song!! but my favorite rodney atkins song has to be These Are My People.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Graduation Songs

Graduation SongsFact or Fiction

Have you got the smarts to know which of these graduation song stories are real?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."