Love Without End

I got sent home from school one day
with a shiner on my eye
fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why
when dad got home i told that story just like i'd rehearsed
then stood there on those tremblin' knees
and waited for the worst
He said, "let me tell you a secret about a father's love
a secret that my daddy said was just between us"
he said, "daddies don't just love their children
every now and then, it's a love without end, amen
it's a love without end, amen"
When i became a father in the spring of '81
there was no doubt that stubborn boy
was just like my father's son
and when i thought my patience
had been tested to the end
i took my daddy's secret and passed it on to him
I said, "let me tell you a secret about a father's love
a secret that my daddy said was just between us"
i said, "daddies don't just love their children
every now and then it's a love without end, amen
it's a love without end, amen"
Last night i dreamed i died and stood outside those pearly gates
when suddenly i realized there must be some mistake
if they know half the things i've done
they'll never let me in
then somewhere from the other side i heard those words again
They said, "let me tell you a secret about a father's love
a secret that my daddy said was just between us
you see, daddies don't just love their children
every now and then it's a love without end, amen
it's a love without end, amen"