FRIEND OF THE FAMILY                 © 1998     by     Myron Schreck

A rainy night at the Greyhound Station, I just arrived from San Antone.
It’s been a year since I’ve been here, but even blind I can find my way home.
A birthday present for a beautiful girl   …   just turning seven
And she’s living in a beautiful world   …  almost heaven.
And I’m allowed to see my child tonight – as a friend of the family.
I get to be at her party tonight  — introduced, as a friend of the family.

A rainy night seven years ago – out of money, and out of work
Doctor bills piled high – my pretty wife about to give birth
Two friends and a sawed off shotgun – we tried to rob a convenience store.
All we got was a hundred dollars.  And, in the end, we got caught.    We got caught.  
Now I’m allowed to see her once a year – as a friend of the family
She doesn’t know why I’m really here – I’m just a friend of the family
Just a friend of the family.   
Just a friend — a friend of the family.     That’s all she knows about me.

A baby born with a Dad in prison.  What kind of life can that ever be?
A quick divorce, and my wife remarried.  Now they have a new family.
Now they have a new family.
She calls . . . him “Daddy.”      Something she can never call me.
And every time that I come to see her  …   every time that I come to see her  …
Every time that I come to see her …
I’m introduced . . . as a friend of the family.  
That’s all she knows about me.
And I’m allowed to see her once a year – as a friend of the family
She doesn’t know why I’m really here – I’m just a friend of the family
And I never tell her I’m her Dad –– that’s the one thing I can never have
And I’ll never know my daughter’s love –
And I’ll never feel my daughter’s hug
* * *

She calls . . . him “Daddy.”      That’s a name she can never call me.
And every time that I come to see her  …   every time that I come to see her  …
Every time that I come to see her …
I’m introduced . . . as a friend of the family.  
That’s all she knows about me.
And I’m allowed to see her once a year – as a friend of the family
She doesn’t know why I’m really here – I’m just a friend of the family
And I can never tell her I’m her Dad –– I’m just a friend of the family
That’s the one thing I’ll never have – I’m just a friend of the family
And I’ll never know my daughter’s love     –     Just a friend of the family
Never get to feel my daughter’s hugs    –     Just a friend of the family
        Just a friend — a friend of the family.     
    And that’s all she’ll ever know about me.