16 Stitches – Granger Smith

I came home with a skinned-up knee
There were tears on my cheeks and a beat up bike
Momma held me and said, “What’s this?
With a Band Aid and a kiss it’ll be alright”

And later on when Daddy got home
I wanted to show him my battle wound
And I told the truth
I said,

“Dad, I got sixteen stitches
And it sure itches and burns a lot.
The backyard was attacked by Injuns
And, man thank goodness I fought ’em off
Just be glad that you had a strong man like me
To do what I did
I got sixteen stitches
But one life to live

Playing catch, me and Dad one December
And I still remember like it was yesterday
I went long and Dad threw a pass
And he slipped in the grass by the driveway

Lying there with ice on his bruise
I looked up at him and said Dad what’d you do
And he told the truth
He said

Son, I got sixteen stitches
And it sure itches and burns a lot
The Super Bowl it was fourth-and-inches
And thank goodness you caught the ball
Just be glad that you had a strong man like me
To do what I did
I got sixteen stitches
But one life to live

Before you know it all the years gone by
And I’m looking like a man, feeling like a child
And kneeling here by my daddy’s bedside wiping off my eyes
I say

Dad, I got sixteen stitches
And it sure itches and burns a lot
Our hearts’ breaking all to pieces
I wish you were here to make it stop
I’m just glad that I had a strong man like you
To do what you did
We got sixteen stitches
But only one life to live