Fair Weather Father

You were there one month of the year,
but the calendar is 12 months long.
Mother did her very best,
but she did it by herself
'cause you were gone.
Every now and then you strolled in.
When you did you
tried to lay down the law.
I guess you were a pretty good dad
when you were there at all.

Someone forgot
to tell you raising kids
is a full time job.
Doors are hard to open
when there is no one
there to help you reach the knob.
The holes of my life
that you have missed
are enough to sink a ship.
A child is not a letter
and a photograph
held together by a paperclip.
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!

Getting older I can see
how mistakes are easily made.
But it doesn't change the fact
that it's by the kids
whom the price is paid.
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!
Fair weather father!

Never taught me to throw a football.
Taught myself to ride a bike.
Could have used some fatherly advice
with the girls I have liked.
Weren't there when I first drove a car.
Weren't there when I finished school.
Weren't there when I ran away
or when I was abused.
Well are you! (repeat)