He raced that engine down the track, 'round the tree on Christmas day I was so amazed my dad would play with trains I saw a sparkle in his eye, then I heard him say "Come on, son, let's play, I was young once too" He washed that Buick faithfully, Lord, he kept her clean I thought that machine meant more to him than me On the day I turned 16, he threw me the keys Said: "I was young once too, now she belongs to you" He was such a young man then, I'm older than that now I hope I measure up to him, when the circle comes around I saw him in the attic, sittin' cross-legged on the floor With some old photographs, he pointed and he laughed He said: "That's me in that picture", I said: "No son, that's your dad I was young once too and looked a lot like you I was young once too, I was young once too" (Merry Christmas, son, I wish your grandpa were here) He was young once too and looked like me and you