Verse 1
My father was a real strong man.
He built our house with his own two hands.
He worked real hard, and he had no debts,
But he had to have his cigarettes.
When Daddy was still quite young,
He got real sick deep down in his lungs.
Mama, she told me really straight,
"The doctors say it's too late,
And Daddy's time will come sometime this year."

Chorus
At the end of the tunnel
There's a light shining through.
At the end of the storm
There's a rainbow in view.
At the end of the night
There's a morning light.
Though today we lose the fight,
Tomorrow we will be all right
If we keep the faith and hold on tight.

Verse 2
My father in a wheelchair,
He finally learned to believe in prayer.
Soft and slow was the way he spoke,
And he made me promise I would never smoke.
Mama said that life was just too cruel,
But Daddy said, "We oughtta send the kids to Sunday school.
When Daddy was only forty-seven,
He went away to live in Heaven.
I was eleven, and Mama was thirty-one.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
My father, right before he passed away,
He bought me a guitar, and I tried to learn to play.
That old, used guitar had a broken string,
But Daddy used to smile when I'd play that thing.
After many years I finally learned to play.
After many tears, I have learned how to pray,
And thank God every day …

Repeat Chorus

"MY FATHER" (with chords)

Intro: (D)-(Bm)-(D)-(Bm)

Verse 1
My (D)father was a real strong man.
He (Em)built our house with his own two (Bm)hands.
He (D)worked real hard, and he had no debts,
But he (Em)had to have his cigar(Bm)ettes.
When (G)Daddy was (A)still quite (Bm)young,
He (G)got real sick deep (A)down in his (Bm)lungs.
(G)Mama, she told me (D)really straight,
"The (G)doctors say (A)it's too late,
And (Em)Daddy's time will (G)come sometime this (A)year."

Chorus
At the (D)end of the (F#m)tunnel
There's a (Bm)light shining (G)through.
At the (F#m)end of the (Em)storm
There's a (F#m)rainbow in (Em)view.
At the (Bm)end of the (Bm7/A)night
There's a (G)morning (E7)light.
Though to(D)day we lose the (Em)fight,
Tomor(F#m)row we will be all (Em)right
If (Bm)we keep the (G)faith and hold on (D)tight.

Verse 2
My (D)father in a wheelchair,
He (Em)finally learned to believe in (Bm)prayer.
(D)Soft and slow was the way he spoke,
And he (Em)made me promise I would never (Bm)smoke.
(G)Mama said that (A)life was just too (Bm)cruel,
But (G)Daddy said, "We oughtta send the (A)kids to Sunday (Bm)school.
When (G)Daddy was only (D)forty-seven,
He (G)went away to (A)live in Heaven.
(Em)I was eleven, and (G)Mama was thirty-(A)one.

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
My (Em)father, (A)right before he (F#m)passed a(Bm)way,
He (Em)bought me a guitar, (A)and I tried to (D)learn to (D#dim)play.
That (Em)old, used gui(A)tar had a (F#m)broken (Bm)string,
But (G)Daddy used to smile when I'd (A)play that thing.
(G)After many years I (D)finally learned to play.
(F)After many tears, I have (F#m)learned how to (Em)pray,
And (F#m)thank God every (A)day …

Repeat Chorus