18 Years

I know
You're holding her for the first time
And her eyes are sparkling so bright
That you can't imagine her growing up

And I know
One day she'll take her first steps
And the camera won't quite catch it
But you'll never have been more proud

So read her every bedtime story
Teach her what she needs to know
Let her get her heart a little broken
Say "I love you" and hold her close
Let her dance around in PJs
Relish it and hold it dear
One day you'll be holding back tears
Cause you only get 18 years

I know
She's gonna want to go out with her friends
Instead of watching cartoons on the weekends
And you're gonna have to let her go

And I know
She's gonna want to stay out past curfew
She's gonna say that you've got no clue
What it's like to be 15

So read her every bedtime story
Teach her what she needs to know
Let her get her heart a little broken
Say "I love you" and hold her close
Let her dance around in her PJs
Relish it and hold it dear
One day you'll be holding back tears
Cause you only get 18 years

In the rearview, they're getting smaller and smaller
And suddenly I don't know who's got it harder
Cause I only got 18 years

I remember every bedtime story
All the things I need to know
Yeah, I got my heart a little broken
But I never once felt alone
I love dancing around in my PJs
But now I've got to move on from here
It still doesn't feel real
There's nothing like those 18 years