First grade after school My dad came to my bedroom Said "Hurry son, you're gonna miss the bus. Get dressed and brush your teeth." Then he stopped me down the hall Said "You're way too young to be so tall" And I felt invincible, as cool as cool could be He put up against the door right before I left And drew a pencil line just above my head And that mark on the door Is just higher than the one before Wasn't much but I knew then Someday I'd be big like my dad 'Cause growing up is huge From a kid's point of view I'd stand up straight to see how far apart He drew those pencil marks High school was good to me Shot up like a rocket Suddenly my world had changed I was seeing things a little different than before Not a boy not quite a man Just old enough for my Uncle Sam My dad helped me pack my duffle bag Then he walked me to the door He said I'm proud of what you're doing Just know that while you're gone I'll be counting down the days 'til you come home With marks on the door From the ceiling down to the floor Marked up wood to anyone else But not to me and my dad 'Cause every day is huge When someone back home is missing you I'll soon be coming home and it all starts With these last few pencil marks I'm all grown up now with a son of my own Yeah he's Grandpa's little man Spitting image of his dad And on his tippy toes he stands in front of me For a mark on the door That's barely three feet from the floor Isn't much but I know now Someday he'll be big like his dad For me that is huge From this man's point of view Life goes on as one great work of art With these brand new pencil marks With my brand new pencil marks