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 sixteen 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 point and 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