the man you helped create

Lyrics

Dad, you taught me about the Lord and how to pray with purpose You said when you pray, be specific, tell God exactly what you need And I carried that truth into every part of my grown-man life Your words still guide me, even now that you’re gone We sat in your church as a family listening to every word you preached You were real and no-nonsense but never stiff or out of reach I’m your namesake, Alvin Whitfield the Second, your only son on my mother’s side And I’m still trying to live up to the strength you placed inside me Dad, I thank you for your wisdom For every prayer you taught me to pray For the lessons and the love For shaping me in every way Your voice still lives inside me Your truth is in the moves I make I’m standing tall because of you Dad, you built the man you helped create You loved boxing with a fire that you passed down to me Every jab and every fight in life you taught me to face fearlessly And when I’m watching those matches now I feel you sitting beside me My Dad, Alvin Whitfield Sr, the fighter, the pastor, the man who walked with pride And Alma, Dad loved you deeply and I honor you with all my heart You stood with him through every season and never fell apart I thank you for my brothers Rame, Jim, Tone, Alley-ahn, and Alex And my sisters Al-vee-nah and My-uh Family stitched together with love, a gift I cherish more each day Dad, I thank you for your wisdom For every prayer you taught me to pray For the lessons and the love For shaping me in every way Your legacy is living in me In every move I make I’m proud to be your son forever Dad, you built the man you helped create