I Should Have Known

Verse 1
I knew when I was only just twenty-three,
That I should be more funny, should be wise and free.
I should be more wealthy, and should be more healthy,
I knew all of this at age twenty-three.

Verse 2
I should take a vacation, and travel 'round the nation,
Should get with the program, be a family man.
Should have been a success, should have stumbled into fortune,
Should have seen the future coming, should have had a plan.

Verse 3
And I finally figured out when I was forty-three,
All these things I should have done were really stressing me,
I should have had the answer, but I could not see,
So I turned to my Dad and he said to me:

Chorus 1
Never "should" on yourself, never measure by wealth.
Spend your time on the high priority.
Life won't follow a plan, so just do what you can,
And you can always come son and share your time with me.

Verse 4
Now my teenage son thinks life should be more fun,
Should be a basketball star, should drive a fast car.
In twenty-eight years he should be forty-three,
And he'll be ready for the message from Daddy and me:

Chorus 1
Never "should" on yourself, never measure by wealth.
Spend your time on the high priority.
Life won't follow a plan, so just do what you can,
And you can always come son and share your time with me.

Verse 5
I was talking with my Mom just the other night,
Said my girls are growing up and seem a little uptight,
Were there words of wisdom she would like to give?
She wrote a note to the girls about her way to live:

Chorus 2
Care for your love and your health, never worry 'bout wealth.
Find a good man and have a family.
Keep a smile on your lips, keep the weight off your hips,
And give your man this note I wrote for your Gran' Daddy:

Chorus 1
Never "should" on yourself, never measure by wealth.
Spend your time on the high priority.
Life won't follow a plan, so just do what you can,
And you can always come son and share your time with me.

Chorus 1
Never "should" on yourself, never measure by wealth.
Spend your time on the high priority.
Life won't follow a plan, so just do what you can,
And you can always come son and share your time with me.

Whitefish Bay: Words and music © 1998-1999 Dan Rutledge, London Ontario Canada
Digital photo journal by Marianne. Web Presentation by Dan.