The Saddest Song
The Ataris Lyrics

Only two more days until your birthday,
The singer is aware of the upcoming birthday of his/her child.

Yesterday was mine.
The singer, too, celebrated their birthday recently.

You'll be turning five.
The child is turning five years old.

I know what it's like,
The artist understands how it feels to grow up without a father.

Growing up without your father in your life.
The artist is speaking from personal experience about growing up without a father.

So I pretend I'm doing all I can,
The singer is putting in an effort to fill the void and make up for lost time with the child.

And hope someday you'll find it in your heart,
The singer has hope that their child will be able to forgive them.

To understand why I'm not around,
The artist wants the child to understand and empathize with their absence.

And forgive me for not being in your life.
The artist seeks forgiveness for the time lost and absence in the child's life.

I remember waiting for you to come.
The artist recalls waiting for the child's father to come but they never did.

Remember waiting for you to call.
The singer waited for the father's phone call but it never came through.

Remember waiting there to find nothing at all.
The artist was left with no information or sign of the child's father.

Maybe someday you'll really get to know me,
The singer hopes that they will have the opportunity to properly bond with the child.

Not just from letters read to you.
The singer doesn't want the child's knowledge of them to be limited to letters or secondhand information.

I pray I get the chance to make it up to you.
The singer is hoping for a chance to make up for the lost time and absence in the child's life.

We've got a lot of catching up to do.
The artist recognizes that a lot of bonding and making up is necessary.

Forgive me, I'm so sorry.
The artist is apologizing and seeking forgiveness for their absence and lost time.

I will make it up to you.
The singer is vowing to make up for the lost time and absence.