[Intro]
D Dsus2 Bm A
Dm Dsus2 Bm A
[Verse 1]
D
For the longest time he was the kind I just didn't understand
Bm A
Hard to read, hard to please, yeah that was my old man
D
On the day I left I for college it was nothing new
Dm D Bm A
We never had that heart to heart, he had too much to do
[Chorus]
Bm G
He checked the air in my tires, the belts and all the sparkplug wires
D A
Said when was the last time you had this oil changed
Bm G
And as I pulled out the drive he said, "be sure and call your mom sometime"
D A
I didn't hear it then but I hear it now
Bm G A D
He was saying "I loooove you," the only way he knew how
[Interlude]
D Dsus2 Bm A
Dm Dsus2 Bm A
[Verse 2]
D
A hundred twenty thousand miles and 6 years down the road
Bm A
Brand new life brand new wife we just bought our first home
D
When he finally came to visit I thought he'd be so proud
Dm Dsus2 Bm A
He never said he liked the place he just got his tool belt out
[Chorus 2]
Bm G
And put new locks on the doors, went back and forth to the hardware store
D A
Said come and hold this flashlight as he crawled beneath the sink
Bm G
These old wires aren't up to code and that circuit box is gonna overload
D A
And I didn't hear it then but I hear it now
Bm G A D
He was saying I loooove you the only way he knew how
[Bridge]
F
Last Sunday we all gathered for his 65th birthday
C
And I knew he'd stiffen up but I hugged him anyway
F
When was finally time to say goodbye I knew what was next
G D A
Just like he always did right before he left
[Chorus]
Bm G
He checked the air in my tires, the belts and all the sparkplug wires
D A
Said when was the last time you had this oil changed
Bm G
And as I pulled out the drive he said, "be sure and call your mom sometime"
D A
I wish I knew back then what I know now
Bm G
He was saying "I loooove you,"
Bm G A D
He was saying "I loooove you,"... the only way he knew how
[Outro]
D Dsus2 Bm A
Dm Dsus2 Bm A D