Lyrics

[Verse 1]
There’s a pair of muddy boots by the back door still
From a little boy used to run up that hill
Freckles on his cheeks, lightning in his laugh
Always asking questions ‘bout this world so fast
Saturday mornings, cartoons on the floor
Little toy truck crashin’ into the door
He’d climb in my lap when the thunder rolled in
And say Mama don’t let the storm in

[Pre-Chorus]
And I swore time would move slow
But time don’t listen, no more

[Chorus (Power Chorus)]
When did my baby turn into a man
When did the world take his little hand
I blinked one time and the years ran away
Now he’s chasing tomorrow while I’m holding yesterday

I know he’s out there building his life
Fighting his battles, doing it right
But the night quiet cuts through my soul
And I pray God reminds him of the road back home

I don’t need much in this life I’ve made
Just a voice on the line saying my name
And for one small moment I can pretend
He’s that little boy running home again

[Verse 2]
His bedroom door still creaks when it swings
Like it remembers a thousand small things
trophies, pictures, the baseball cap
Still hanging where he left it at
Sometimes I swear when the wind blows through
I hear that laugh echo in the room
But the house just settles and the floorboards sigh
Like they miss that boy the way I do tonight

[Pre-Chorus]
And I know he’s grown strong
But a mother’s heart holds on

[Chorus (Bigger)]
When did my baby turn into a man
When did the world take his little hand
I blinked one time and the years ran away
Now he’s chasing tomorrow while I’m holding yesterday
I know he’s out there building his life
Fighting his battles, gettin' it right
But the night quiet cuts through my soul
And I pray God reminds him of the road back home
I don’t need much in this life I’ve made
Just a voice on the line saying my name
And for one small moment I can pretend
He’s that little boy running home again

[Bridge (Stapleton-style emotional break)]
I’d give every sunrise I’ve got left to see
For one more bedtime story on my knee
One more scraped knee I could kiss goodbye
One more “Mama, don’t turn out the light”
But love like this never fades away
It just waits quietly through the days

[Final Chorus (Huge / backup singers join)]
When did my baby turn into a man
When did the world take his little hand
But no matter how far his road might roam
My heart still whispers “Come on home”

I know he’s strong and I know he’s grown
But he’ll never walk this world alone
Cause every prayer that I send above
Still carries a mother’s stubborn love

And if tonight that phone should ring
Lord it’d mean everything
To hear that voice say once again
Mama… I love you