Tough Little Boys
Gary Allan Lyrics

Well I never once
I have never backed down from a fight

Backed down from a punch
I have never shied away from a physical altercation

Well I'd take it square on the chin
I am willing to endure physical pain and injury

Well I found out fast
I learned quickly

A bully's just that
A bully is only someone who tries to intimidate others

You've got to stand up to him
You must confront bullies and assert yourself

So I didn't cry when I got a black eye
I did not show weakness or fear when I suffered physical injury

As bad as it hurt, I just grinned
I was able to maintain a tough exterior despite the pain

But when tough little boys grow up to be dads
As grown men and fathers, we can still feel vulnerable and emotional

They turn into big babies again.
We revert back to childlike vulnerability, especially when it comes to our children

Scared me to death
I was frightened to the point of extreme anxiety

When you took your first steps
When my child began to walk, it was a major milestone

And I'd fall every time you fell down
I felt emotionally connected to my child's journey and experiences

Your first day of school, I cried like a fool
I was overcome with emotion when my child started school

And I followed your school bus to town
I couldn't help but be worried for my child's safety

Well I'm a grown man
As a mature adult, I should have everything under control

And as strong as I am
Despite being physically and emotionally strong, I am not immune to fear and anxiety

Sometimes its hard to believe
It defies logic to feel so vulnerable and anxious as an adult

That one little girl, with little blonde curls
My child, who is small and innocent, can still make me feel vulnerable

Could totally terrify me
My fears and anxieties as a parent can be overwhelming

If you were to ask
If questioned about my emotions, I might try to play them down

My wife would just laugh
My partner understands me better than I might think

She'd say "I know all about men"
My partner recognizes that traditional expectations of masculinity don't always hold up

When tough little boys grow up to be dads
As fathers and parents, we have a unique set of challenges in navigating our emotions and vulnerabilities

They turn into big babies again
Despite our best efforts to maintain composure, we can still be reduced to tears and overwhelmed with emotion

Well I know one day, I'll give you away
As a parent, I will have to come to terms with my child growing and moving on

And I'm gonna stand there and smile
Despite my sadness and emotions, I will try to show my support and happiness for my child

And when I get home, and I'm all alone
Privately, I may feel different emotions

Well, I'll sit in your room for a while
I will reminisce, feeling both happiness and sadness

Well I didn't cry when Old Yeller died
I tried to maintain a tough exterior, even during sad or emotional moments

At least not in front of my friends
I took care to protect my image as a strong, tough man

But when tough little boys grow up to be dads
As a father, I can become much more emotional and vulnerable

They turn into big babies again
Despite our efforts to be strong, we are still human and can be overwhelmed by sadness and emotion