[Verse 2]
Moms got tired✦ of the beatings✦ said, "Yo, we got to go"
Packed✦ up her bags we bounced✦ out the do'
She said, "I ain't takin✦ these whippin's no mo'
I wanna live to see my little Todd grow"
I remember tear drops on my pops face
Lookin'✦ down at me standin on the staircase
Handsome brother✦ with a smooth goatee
Makes✦ me wonder✦ why he act so ugly,✦ you feelin'✦ me? (I'm feelin✦ you)
[Chorus]
(All I ever✦ wanted)✦ All I ever✦ wanted✦
(All I ever✦ needed)✦ All I ever✦ needed✦
(Was a father)✦ Was a father✦
(That's all) That's all!
(All I ever✦ wanted)✦ All I ever✦ wanted✦
(All I ever✦ needed)✦ All I ever✦ needed...✦ was a father✦
(Was a father)✦
[Verse 3]
My pops got drunk when me and my moms bounced✦
Swigged some Jack Dan', sniffed up a ounce
Grabbed the shotty,✦ left Long Isle for Queens
Possesed by a demon, a devil✦ it seemed✦
I was too young to understand the risk
When your moms come home off the midnight shift
She turned✦ around, heard the shotgun click
My pops said, "You think that you could leave me ****?"
He blasted my moms in the back
She fell down screamin', I can't forget that
My grandfather tried to close the do'
He got shot ten times✦ in the stomach, yo, for real
[Chorus]
(all I ever✦ wanted)✦
All I ever✦ wanted✦
(all I ever✦ needed)✦
All I ever✦ needed✦
(was a father)✦
Was a father✦
(that's all)
That's all!
(all I ever✦ wanted)✦
All I ever✦ wanted✦
(all I ever✦ needed)✦
All I ever✦ needed...✦ was a father✦
(was a father)✦
[Verse 4]
My head was spinnin, I had never✦ seen blood
Four years old, this don't feel like love
Anyway,✦ pops dissapeared
Grandpops and moms healed✦ up over✦ the years
This therapist got up in her head
Led her to believe without him she'd be dead
You know, they fell in love with one another✦
Everything seemed✦ right that's word to mother✦
Until✦ I started gettin✦ beatings✦ everday
Sometimes for going outside✦ to play
Late at night on my knees I'd pray
A young child, wishin✦ the pain would go away✦
Dad where was you when he made me strip
Beat with belts like a slave with a whip
Kicked✦ me down steps outside✦ in the snow
Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo'
That's just the tip of the iceberg look
It's too long for a song but perfect for a book
Word is bond, that's real baby✦
[Chorus]
(all I ever✦ wanted)✦
All I ever✦ wanted✦
(all I ever✦ needed)✦
All I ever✦ needed✦
(was a father)✦
Was a father✦
(that's all)
That's all!
(all I ever✦ wanted)✦
All I ever✦ wanted✦
(all I ever✦ needed)✦
All I ever✦ needed...✦ was a father✦
(was a father)✦