Your work kept you away for months, that's how it seemed to me
But times goes by so slow when you're a kid
I always ran to meet you just in time to grab your hand
And you were glad to be back home from lonely weeks at sea
I missed you more as years went by; I kept it all inside
Until I saw you out the door then I would start to cry
Just another brief goodbye
No time for telling how we felt inside
Not knowing time would come so soon
When all our hopes would die
Just another brief goodbye
You got sick and lost your strength, the promises were dim
The toughest dad on earth was giving up
'Though you vanished more each day you never did complain
I took your hand for comfort in this fight you couldn't win
In vain we hoped for miracles, then came time for us to part
Knowing this time you're not coming back is tearing up my heart
I wish this was a brief goodbye
Leave me time to tell you how I feel inside
This time you're not coming back
And I'll try not to cry
I wish this was a brief goodbye