Pat Green - While I Was Away Lyrics






By the time I made it home, you were already in bed
Chubby cheek pressed to your a pillow by a bedtime book you read
And I noticed you looked older than you did yesterday
You’ve been growing up while I was away

You made a pile of leaves in the front yard, I guess it’s already fall
By the look of those pictures your mama took, the two of you had a ball
And It made me glad but a little sad to see those games you played
I missed a lot of smiles while I was away

And for every dollar I earn there’s a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I’m on the go, I’m praying that you know your daddy cared
Cause the hardest part about working hard ain’t about the bills I gotta pay
It’s you growing up while I was away

And I found your note in the kitchen, it’s a real work of art
A stick man holding your stick hand with “Daddy” written in a heart
And it got me good cause I’ve understood what you meant to say
You’ve been missing me too while I was away

And for every dollar I earn there’s a lesson you learn without me there
And every day I’m on the go, I’m praying that you know your daddy cared
Cause the hardest part about working hard ain’t about the bills I gotta pay
It’s you growing up while I was away

You know the hardest part about working hard ain’t the bills I gotta pay
It’s everything I missed while I was away.





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Pat Green While I Was Away Comments
  1. R.... E....

    Im a underground miner im away from my wife and kids over 180 days a year

  2. J.... B....

    Some might think that railroad workers aren't gone a lot when they are. They are nothing compared to military, and some others but they are gone a lot. My daddy is a conductor and engineer I would know.

  3. S.... R....

    I served as firefighter it killed me too be way but my kids knew I loved them

  4. L.... M....

    Beautiful song !

  5. t.... ....

    Journeyman pipe welder, gone 9+ months a year. Strum them hearts strings..

  6. D.... R....

    Thank you. I'm gone 330 days a year pushing a rig. Love it, but the tradeoff is rough.

  7. K.... H....

    Listen to this for the 1st time on my way into work this morning. I'm crying my eyes out as I think about my little boy at home in bed. I'm a working mom gone before hes up and back when hes asleep every day almost. I'm lucky if I get 1 or 2 days a week with him.

  8. m.... ....

    What about law enforcement they put firemen in there who only work 3 days a week but not leos? What?

  9. g.... ....

    The whole point of working is to provide for your families monetary needs..... but most children don’t care about monetary issues until we teach them to do so.... something to think about .... what do they really need to be happy inside? I believe relationships are way more valuable than money... Friendships also fail when you don’t put time into them, why would it be any different with family... jmo ... to all those who are effected by this, I applaud you for working for your families. But it’s never to late to try something new ,,especially if your kids are young. They want your time more than a new bike .. trust me

  10. B.... L....

    My dads on the oil rigs and he is planning on going for his two weeks then his two off then his two on again hes supposed to come home in two days but isnt I miss and love you dad

  11. Y.... M....

    My dad worked in the oilfield for 10 years and it’s been 4 years since he quit and this song still makes me cry. I can’t get through the whole song without crying 😢

  12. D.... N....

    This is my go to. Kind of a song for my life. I was on the road, layin asphalt. 450 degrees of hell per shovel full. Scars to prove it. Couldn't go home if I wanted. My oldest cried himself to sleep with Lightning MCQUEEN. I'll never forget the day he saw me again. Biggest and tightest hug he's ever given me. For months, I had nothing but phone calls to offer. So glad and proud of my boy. These days, I work in a meat dept for a local grocery store. This song still brings tears to my eyes. I hope and pray that your kids know and feel what you're saying, Pat. Nothing but love and respect from the Titus family. Big hugs from Iowa.

  13. J.... R....

    I really wish oilfield was included in the video. It kills me and our boys when he leaves and misses out on family celebrations and holidays. Kisses through video calls will never be as good but it's all we have half, sometimes more, of the year.

  14. C.... M....

    I’m a scaffold builder working turnarounds in the refinery’s across the states and I’m away all year long and come home for max of 1 week every 5 months to see my two beautiful baby boys and wife it’s hard but it’s a sacrifice one day I hope they understand

  15. S.... M....

    This song has me in tears every time I hear or. My dad was a truck driver. He was often away. He would call every day and he was there for the important things. He passed away nine years ago.

  16. J.... W....

    God bless the dedicated men and women.

  17. J.... E....

    Worked in the oil patch for a while now and gets harder leaving every time

  18. J.... G....

    I'm gone over half of the year,I work on a workover oil rig it's so hard leaving my 2 boys and my lady,I miss a lot but do it all for them to have a better life and I'm thankfull and honoured to have a family strong enough to stand by me and still be there every time I go home..

  19. J.... B....

    Aircraft mechanic (contract) or factory work has taken me away from my kiddos more than i even want to admit ! 80/90 hours a week constantly traveling and all for them ! This song just kicked me right in the feels

  20. T.... E....

    Lil late but my dads in Alaska for nine weeks while my family’s down here in Utah I’m so great full for him

  21. R.... M....

    Police officers????

  22. Z.... W....

    Pipeline fathers are gone 260 days per year

  23. G.... V....

    Line wife with 4 Lil ones this definitely hits home

  24. R.... C....

    I miss my dad I only get to see him every 4 months but I still love him

  25. J.... ....

    By the time I made it home
    You were already in bed
    Chubby cheek pressed to the pillow
    By a bed time book you read
    And I noticed that you looked older
    Than you did yesterday
    You've been growing up
    While I was away

    You made a pile of leaves in the front yard
    I guess it's already fall
    By the look of them pictures your momma took
    The two of you had a ball
    And it made me glad, but a little sad
    To see those games you played
    I missed a lot of smiles
    While I was away

    For every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
    And every day I'm on the go I'm prayin' that you know that your daddy cares
    'Cause the hardest part about workin' hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
    It's you growin' up while I was away

    And I found your note in the kitchen
    It's a real work of art
    A stickman holding your stick hand with "Daddy" written in a heart
    And it got me good 'cause I understood just what you meant to say
    You've been missing me too
    While I Was Away

    And for every dollar I earn there's a lesson you learn without me there
    For every day I'm on the go I'm prayin' that you know your daddy cares
    'Cause the hardest part about workin' hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
    It's you growin' up while I was away

    No the hardest part about working hard ain't the bills I gotta pay
    It's everything that I missed
    While I was away

  26. p.... f....

    Thank every one for your help to the country

  27. M.... M....

    My dad is a oil fielder he is gone for 2 months and only stays I week

  28. G.... ....

    Gone 300 days a year, chasin black gold.

  29. A.... D....

    this song makes me cry my dad is a fire fighter and is gone most of the time so he misses a lot of my milestones and activities and when he gets home i am already in bed

  30. M.... J....

    I weld on the pipeline and I was gone 280 days last year

  31. M.... ....

    Why no credit to the real musical genius behind this song?? Zane Williams wrote it, and his version is still the best. I'm sure he's getting royalties off the cover, but let's not pretend Pat Green wrote this country masterpiece. Zane Williams is about the most down-to-earth, genuinely good guy in the music business. Give the guy his due.

  32. J.... L....

    Only 4yrs left n this military life style will be over... Looking for another career in where i can see my wife and children much more often

  33. M.... M....

    Missed most of my children's lives chasing drilling rigs. Regret what gone never regret providing then a better life than I had growing up. Build were always paid

  34. C.... K....

    This song is my life but my kids don't go without

  35. S.... L....

    My daddy is lineman. I love daddy to the moon and back.

  36. A.... R....

    I'm a pipeline welder my wife is having our 4th kid tonight while I watch it on face time

  37. S.... L....

    My dad is a linemen

  38. A.... A....

    Dad I miss u so much I miss u in my life plz come home to me😭😭😭😭

  39. S.... L....

    When I first saw this I cried

  40. S.... L....

    My dad as been for 2months

  41. S.... L....

    My dad is a linemen

  42. a.... l....

    😢 I miss my dad

  43. A.... D....

    reminds me if my dad

  44. Y.... ....

    My dad works off shore. He sent this to me. I hope he knows I care as well

  45. M.... H....

    Sweet song!

  46. S.... Z....

    What about us construction guys? we build these rigs and plants, hell everything, one of the deadliest jobs and we watch our kids grow up on pictures.....its sad, but it has to be done

  47. J.... P....

    Justin with Jessica
    Danielle is Luis
    Misty is Scott
    Megan is Michael
    Michelle & Kevin
    Charline with matt
    Mark is lyn

  48. R.... ....

    My Dad, he's in prison. And this song hit me hard. I miss him more and more everyday, and though he may not have been the best father to me and my brothers, he was there for us. I love you, Dad. I'll see you as soon as you get out... 💔

  49. H.... A....

    oilfield worker...slb wireline. missing my four babies back home and crying like a baby when I heard this

  50. T.... E....

    My dad works in the oil field in Alaska while were down here in utah he leaves for 3 to for weeks at a time and comes back for only 2 or 3 he misses holidays, gradutations, and birthdays and I know it takes a tole on him i couldn't ask for a better dad he works his life away for the family

  51. i.... m....

    I'm a domestic caregiver and gone away for 1890 days now

  52. L.... B....

    Who could possibly give a thumbs down to this awesome song?!

  53. g.... l....

    I can't believe he didn't mention gang members all that time spent away in jail.
    I miss you dad -El CHAPO

  54. M.... P....

    Oil patch and right here this hit really hard there is nothing that I won't do for my family sacrifices we make as fathers or mothers to provide a better life for our family kids thank you for this wonderful song

  55. J.... C....

    I work for a deep foundation company driving foundation piling I'm only home 24 days a year with a wife a son and a baby girl at home I do this to provide a comfortable life for my family even though it seems like my family is growing without me I try to take my son either hunting or fishing every time I come in and I always fix my daughter's hair for church on Sunday mornings I dont have much time to have an influence on there life's but I try my hardest I married the strongest woman I know to be able to hold a full time job and raise our kids she's a true angle on earth it's a hard life but it's ours and we make it work one day at a time

  56. K.... T....

    My father retired from sheet metal work just within the last five years. He wasn't home sometimes every night but to get up to drive three hours away if his job site was that close. Other times he would be gone for weeks at a time just to come home and sleep. I love him more than anything. He missed a lot of my firsts to put in duct work. He showed me that you do anything to support your family and he continues to show me while I raise my son.

  57. D.... ....

    Currently deployed and damn... this song fucking hurts.

  58. T.... E....

    This song All ways makes me tear up

  59. R.... w....

    I work in the oilfield and this song says it all about people who work away from home sometimes I ask myself is it even worth it.

  60. T.... G....

    If don't get a working man whose gone a lot then not sure what's in him

  61. G.... C....

    Power lineman. Gone 324 day 2017. And building quick for 2018. Keeping people with power. Never thought of till power is out.

  62. H.... A....

    My dad is gone manly 2or3 months it hard for me and my family he does so much for us when he leaves home we try so hard not to cry but he says sorry but I have to go to make money 😭😭😭😭😭

  63. G.... S....

    This one sure hits home hard!!! I miss my kids each and every day while im away!!!

  64. B.... S....

    You forgot about us rig hands. Making our country grow again!!!

  65. t.... ....

    Tow Boater-Gone 244 days per year. For every 3 years, I'm home 1. If your child is 21, then you seen them 7 years.

  66. D.... m....

    They forget about turnaround hands we work all rest and are maybe home only a month total out of the year. And sometimes when we are lucky we can find a job at home. But some of the people I know don’t live near a refinery or plant.

  67. G.... S....

    SO TRUE!!!

  68. j.... o....

    Little disappointed that they didn’t put any towboaters or oil field workers on there. We keep this country moving and the average American has no clue.

  69. j.... ....

    The biggest bill you gotta pay is having kids then not living with them. I mean living as in day to day, month to month and year out
    it is something you will come to regret

  70. t.... ....

    Pipeliner here.... I heard this song and couldn't stop crying... I have a 3 year old who calls me every night to tell me she misses and loves me... I get about 14 to 30 days at home per year.... hits hard

  71. N.... R....

    Im an over the road truck driver this song hits home no I don't have kids but I got a little sister that looks at me like a father figure when I'm gone it sucks when I leave this run I been gone 3 months I talk to her and can tell she misses me but don't show it

  72. A.... K....

    My dad was a trucker for 15 years. This hits home.

  73. I.... ....

    Oilfield workers can be away for better part of 6 months out of the year. Hell some guys are only off 13 days out of a year.

  74. J.... W....

    Hi.My dad and my mom split up and aren’t married anymore and this song makes me think about my dad but he doesn’t come back he has a new wife now and a new baby boy and lives really far away.

  75. F.... R....

    Heavy equipment mechanic

  76. C.... B....

    damn you're so fine and I just love your music

  77. J.... T....

    Zane Williams wrote this and his version is worth hearing. I prefer over Pat's. Check out Zane's song Jayton and Jill too. Another awesome storytelling song. He's an amazing singer songwriter that deserves a lot more recognition.

  78. A.... H....

    I am 14 and my mom and dad are divorced, my dad moved to Texas while my mom and I are in Colorado. I miss my dad so much and my mom never lets me talk to my dad and I can't help but think of him when I listen to this song I always cry. I feel so guilty for not talking to him cause the last time I talked to him was 6 1/2 months ago. I love my dad so much.

  79. B.... W....

    A rig is the longest

  80. S.... S....

    Talk about a song that hits you right in the feelers. Wish I could spend more time home with my 2 daughters and wife. The oilfield is relentless.

  81. Z.... S....

    Truck driver. Love what I do. But miss all the good times.

  82. E.... N....

    Pipeliners travel all across the land gone for months to years at a time only seeing a few holidays and 6 to 7 days a week 75+ hours a week.

  83. r.... m....

    Anyone that works a 40 hour work week is technically away 87 days out of the year. The song rings true.

  84. K.... M....

    my dad is a truck driver and I only get to see him every other weekend so when we herd this sons we both started to tear up

  85. e.... ....

    No pipeliners..

  86. r.... n....

    Forgot oilfield workers. Gone 250 plus days a year

  87. S.... K....

    I'm so glad I don't have to work like I used to. I'm making it up now that I work 8to5

  88. R.... D....

    When I first heard this song it hit home. Thought about truck drivers actually. Not military. But I see how that fits

  89. a.... ....

    I work in EMS I want to sing this at my daughters wedding.

  90. S.... S....

    pipe/tube welder here....its almost September and I've only seen home about 4 weeks all year...I have 4 kids and a wife and I miss them so much and have missed so much. ..my youngest child my only son is 2 now and I might've seen him 9 months of his life. ...the sacrifices we make to give them a better life cannot be measured....I love you Bre,Kaylie, Audrey and Sawyer and my beautiful wife Laura

  91. S.... S....

    pipe/tube welder here....its almost September and I've only seen home about 4 weeks all year...I have 4 kids and a wife and I miss them so much and have missed so much. ..my youngest child my only son is 2 now and I might've seen him 9 months of his life. ...the sacrifices we make to give them a better life cannot be measured....I love you Bre,Kaylie, Audrey and Sawyer and my beautiful wife Laura

  92. M.... F....

    thank you for serving our country all of the veterans that are out there

  93. L.... F....

    My Father is a Boilermaker for 30+ years now, I've been a Railroader for 7 years now with 2 children at home. I never truly understood his sacrifice until I stood in his shoes

  94. B.... G....

    military, 270 days a year? So the song is saying that we get three months roughly off per year to go home to our families? clearly this guy is never served in any branch of armed forces. I've been in the Marines for coming up on five years, a total of 1760 days, I get out of the Marines in 65 days, and I've been home for a total of roughly 80 Days or so. Give or take.

  95. M.... N....

    I've done the military, I've done the trucking and now I'm doing the oilfield. I first heard this song when I was trucking and it broke me. I've got two babies and the most amazing woman in the world at home and I'd do anything for them. That's why we sacrifice. Some make more than others do but we all sacrifice the same. No matter what profession you work in. If you're gone, you're gone. it hurts no matter what.

  96. R.... B....

    I'm in oilfield. Gone about 9 months out of the year. great song. Really hits home.

  97. J.... E....

    what about the damn pipeliners was only home 60 days last year

  98. M.... W....

    Dredge boater here gone 220 days a year. roughly the same for tug boat guys.