He Didn't Have To Be (acoustic)

Brad Paisley

Tom: A

A  D/A  A  D/A 
INTRO 
       A                                 D/A 
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new, 
   Esus            E                                 A  D/A 
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview. 
   A                             D/A 
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone, 
            Esus       E                                A   D/A 
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run. 
 
  A                              D/A 
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old, 
           Esus         E                            A  
He took my mom out to a movie and for once, I got to go. 
                              D/A 
A few months later I remember lying there in bed, 
      Esus              E                                    A 
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes. 
 
And then, 

Bm                      Esus                 E    
 All of a sudden, oh it seemed so strange to me, 
E/Ab   A                     A/Db         D      A/Db 
How we went from something's missing to a family. 
Bm                           Esus         E                 F#m  E  D  A/Db 
 Looking back all I can say about all the things he did for me, 
   Bm                           E                          A  D/A  E 
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be. 

  A                               D/A 
I met the girl who's now my wife about three years ago, 
   Esus            E                                     A   D/A 
We had the perfect marriage, but we wanted something more. 
    A                              D/A 
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends, 
        Esus              E                             A 
Crowded round the nursery window as they bring the baby in.  
 
And now, 

Bm                      Esus                 E   
 All of a sudden, oh it seemed so strange to me, 
E/Ab      A                     A/Db         D      A/Db 
How we've gone from something's missing to a family. 
Bm                                  Esus                E                F#m  E  D  A/Db 
 Looking through the glass I think about the man that's standing next to me, 
    Bm                           Esus        E              A 
And I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be. 
      Bm                           E                             A  D/A 
Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be. 
                          A  D/A  
Because he didn't have to be. 
                           A  D/A  A  D/A  E  A 
You know he didn't have to be.