What You Leave Behind

He throws a baseball all by himself

Against a brick wall, 'cause nobody else

Can pitch it like his daddy did

He does his homework and turns out the light

Checks on his mama when she cries at night

She tells him he's a good kid

His daddy's features are there on his face

And not a day goes by that he can't hear him say

"I gave you my name, you'll carry it on

Someday you'll be grown, someday I'll be gone

And the love that you give today and for the rest of your life

Is what you leave behind"

He still remembers that day in the rain

When all their friends and family came

To pay their last respects to him

He doesn't know anything about war

His mama tells him what the medal is for

She says, "He'd want you to have it"

He holds it there in the palm of his hand

And remembers those words that'll make him a man

He said, "I gave you my name, you'll carry it on

Someday you'll be grown, someday I'll be gone

And the love that you give today and for the rest of your life

Is what you leave behind you for those who

Need to keep movin' on

Remember, I'm with you

You're never alone, no"

And he can still hear him say

"I gave you my name, you'll carry it on

Someday you'll be grown, someday I'll be gone

And the love that you give today and for the rest of your life

Is what you leave behind, oh"

It's what you leave behind