He raced that engine down the track 'round the tree on Christmas day I was so amazed my dad would play with trains I saw a sparkle in his eye, then I heard him say, come on son let's play, I was young once, too He washed that Buick faithfully, Lord he kept her clean I thought that machine meant more to him than me On the day I turned sixteen he threw me the keys Said I was young once, too, now she belongs to you He was such a young man then, I'm older than that now I hope I measure up to him, when the circle comes around I saw him in the attic sittin' cross legged on the floor With some old photographs, he point and laughed He said, that's me in that picture, I said, no son, that's your dad I was young once, too, and looked a lot like you I was young once, too, I was young once, too Merry Christmas son, I wish your grandpa were here He was young once, too, and looked like me and you