The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulele, upright bass, vocals), Coy Bowles (guitar, keyboards), Chris Fryar (drums), Clay Cook (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, steel guitar, vocals), Matt Mangano (bass guitar), and Daniel de los Reyes (percussion).
My Old Man
Zac Brown Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was just a kid
I was always trying
To do everything he did
I can still remember every lesson he taught me
Growing up learning how to be like my old man
He was a lion
But I was defiant
When he made me walk the line
He knew how to lift me up
And when to let me fall
Looking back, he always had a plan
My old man
My old man
Feel the callous on his hands
And dusty overalls
My old man
Now I finally understand
I have a lot to learn
From my old man
Now I'm a giant
Got a son of my own
He's always trying
To go everywhere I go
Do the best I can to raise him up the right way
Hoping that he someday wants to be
Like his old man
My old man
I know one day we'll meet again
As he's looking down
My old man
I hope he's proud of who I am
I'm trying to fill the boot of my old man
My old man
The song My Old Man by Zac Brown Band is a heartfelt tribute to the singer's father. The song describes the relationship the singer had with his father growing up and the lessons he learned from him. The first stanza of the song depicts the singer's father as a giant and himself as a kid always trying to do everything his father did. The singer recalls every lesson his father taught him while growing up learning how to be like his old man.
The second stanza portrays the singer's father as a lion who was proud of his offspring. However, the singer was defiant when he was made to walk the line. Despite that, his father knew when to lift him up and when to let him fall. Looking back, the singer realizes that his father always had the plan worked out. The chorus of the song speaks about the calloused hands and dusty overalls of the singer's father, and how he never truly understood the significance of those features until he himself became a father.
The third and final stanza describes the singer as a giant himself, with a son of his own who is always trying to copy his father's actions. The singer aims to raise his son the right way so that he can be like his old man in the future. The song concludes on a poignant note where the singer hopes that one day he and his father will meet again as his father looks down from above, and he hopes his father will be proud of who he has become. In essence, the song is a touching tribute to fathers everywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a giant
My father was a great role model who taught me how to be a good man.
When I was just a kid
When I was younger and still learning about life.
I was always trying
I was always striving to be like my dad, who I admired greatly.
To do everything he did
I wanted to learn from my dad and follow in his footsteps.
I can still remember every lesson he taught me
My father taught me many valuable lessons that I still remember to this day.
Growing up learning how to be like my old man
As I grew up, I learned how to become a good man like my father.
He was a lion
My father was strong and brave.
We were our father's pride
My siblings and I were very important to our dad and he was proud of us.
But I was defiant
I was rebellious and didn't always follow my dad's rules.
When he made me walk the line
When my dad disciplined me for my actions.
He knew how to lift me up
My dad knew how to encourage me and make me feel better.
And when to let me fall
My father knew when to let me make my own mistakes and learn from them.
Looking back, he always had a plan
In hindsight, my dad always had a plan for my life and my future.
Feel the callous on his hands
My dad worked hard with his hands and the calluses on them were a symbol of his effort.
And dusty overalls
My dad's work was often dirty and grueling, but he didn't mind.
Now I finally understand
As I've grown older, I appreciate and comprehend the lessons my dad taught me.
I have a lot to learn
I realize that I still have much to learn in order to be as good of a man as my dad was.
From my old man
My father continues to be a source of guidance and inspiration for me.
Now I'm a giant
I have grown up and become a good man, just like my father.
Got a son of my own
I now have a child of my own who I hope to teach and guide like my father did for me.
He's always trying
My son is always looking up to me and trying to emulate my actions.
To go everywhere I go
My son wants to be with me and experience what I do.
Do the best I can to raise him up the right way
I am trying my best to be a good father and to teach my son to be a good person as well.
Hoping that he someday wants to be
I hope that my son will look up to me as I did with my father and seek to be like me one day.
I know one day we'll meet again
I believe that one day I will be reunited with my dad after his passing.
As he's looking down
I imagine that my dad is watching over me and my family from heaven.
I hope he's proud of who I am
I want to make my dad proud with the way I have lived my life.
I'm trying to fill the boot of my old man
I am doing my best to carry on my dad's legacy and to live up to his example of being a good man.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Zac Browm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kyle Kendall
Im not going to lie. Im 31 years old an I cried. I wish I had my old man. I can relate. He used to let me drive his truck when I was on his lap. He was in Afghanistan and his helicopter was shot down. Last thing I hear from him was "It'll be ok. Ill be back soon. I love you son" and he left to return in a casket. I miss my old man:( Thats why I became a U.S Marine so if one day I see him in heaven, I could shake his hand hug him and hear him tell me the most powerful words to me "son, im proud of you. I love you"
Nick Rykert
May God bless you and your family!
Roger McKamey
He is proud of you...
I am too, thank you for your service.
Charlie Brown
I feel ya man it will be okay you'll see him
Reese
Kyle Kendall I don’t usually comment on videos, especially comments. But I felt this. I hope you get to hear those words.
Reese
Kyle Kendall I don’t usually comment on videos, especially comments. But I felt this. I hope you get to hear those words.
Edwin the Jolly Panda
I lost my father at the beginning of my senior year in college. He wanted the doctors to keep him alive long enough to see me graduate. He passed away 2 months into my senior year. To anyone that is listening to this song and still have their father. Cherish every moment you can with him because one day you are going to look back and regret not spending more time with him.
Josh Nichols
Lost my dad yesterday he was 57. I’m 26 he was taken from me so unexpectedly. Cherish you’re loved ones people, tomorrow is never promised I’ve got a lot of life left to live if the good lord allows it and idk what I’m going to do without my dad.
Rick F
41 years ago today I lost my old man. I was 19. Say hi to your Dad today.
Dorinda Close
@Ty T my dad died in 83 i still miss him very much`1111