Once I was a little boy and half my father’s size
A knight in shining armor was my father in my eyes
The only thing I wanted was to be just like my dad
To wear that shining armor like so many other lads

He began to teach me how to be a mighty man
How the armor saved him many times from injury and harm
“Protection is important, son, in order to survive
You have to hide behind a shield to stay alive 

(saying)
Whatever you may do, my son, wherever you may go
Don’t be unprotected, don’t let your feelings show
Every man is for himself, on that you can rely
You’ll have to hide behind a shield to stay alive”

So growing up I learned the things my father knew so well
Preparing for the world I was protected by my shell
But Mother sat me down, “Hear this before you go
There’s something I should tell you and it’s something you should know

Your father taught you well, my son, but one thing isn’t right
You shouldn’t go out on your own preparing for a fight
The armor’s just a permanent affliction of his pride
And your father’s never let no one inside

So whatever you may do, my son, wherever you may go
Don’t you ever be afraid to let your feelings show
And if you grow to be a man I think you will have found
It was the day you learned to let your armor down”

So when I have my own boy I’ll know just what to do
And foolish pride won’t interfere with what he’s going through
We’ll wash him up with laughter and rinse him off with tears
And we’ll fill him up with loving that’ll last him all his years

So whatever you may do, my son, wherever you may go
Don’t you ever be afraid to let your feelings show
And if you grow to be a man I think you will have found
It was the day you learned to let your armor down”

So whatever you may do, my son, wherever you may go
Don’t you ever be afraid to let your feelings show
And if you grow to be a man I think you will have found
It was the day you learned to let your armor down”