He raced that engine down the track 'round the tree on Christmas day

I was so amazed my dad would play with trains

I saw a sparkle in his eye, then I heard him say, come on son let's play, I was young once, too



He washed that Buick faithfully, Lord he kept her clean

I thought that machine meant more to him than me

On the day I turned sixteen he threw me the keys

Said I was young once, too, now she belongs to you



He was such a young man then, I'm older than that now

I hope I measure up to him, when the circle comes around



I saw him in the attic sittin' cross legged on the floor

With some old photographs, he point and laughed

He said, that's me in that picture, I said, no son, that's your dad

I was young once, too, and looked a lot like you



I was young once, too, I was young once, too

Merry Christmas son, I wish your grandpa were here

He was young once, too, and looked like me and you