Maybe Next Year

Verse 1

Only three times in my life
I ever saw Dad cry
Twice at the World Series
Once on Super Bowl night

He'd sit until the broadcast ended
Let the dark fill up the room
Then he'd rub my hair and call me Tiger
Say, "It's coming. We're still due."

I wasn't meant to see him
In the garage that night
With his father's cap between his hands
And the house behind him quiet

Chorus

Chargers and Padres
I hear those names and I'm
A little boy who can't do anything
To keep his dad from crying

For some goddamned reason
After all the years I've had
Chargers and Padres
Two words shouldn't hurt this bad

Verse 2

We'd put the pennants in the window
Pull our chairs up to the screen
Dad would talk about his father
And the games I'd never seen

He knew the names of all the players
How we lost and who got hurt
He'd tell me, "This one's different"
As he handed me my shirt

Then we'd watch another city
Pour its people in the street
Dad would reach for the remote
And sit a while with me

Chorus

Chargers and Padres
I hear those names and I'm
A little boy who can't do anything
To keep his dad from crying

For some goddamned reason
After all the years I've had
Chargers and Padres
Two words shouldn't hurt this bad

Verse 3

I grew up and bought the tickets
Dad still liked to buy the food
We'd climb a little slower
To the seats we always knew

Sometimes I'd watch him watching
When the game was getting late
His hands held tight together
Like there still was time to pray

Every long ride home was quiet
Till our exit would appear
Then he'd turn to me and say it
"Tiger, maybe next year."

Bridge

Granddad never got his parade
Dad said we'd go for him
He used to tell me where we'd stand
If they could only win

I never cared about the street
Or who would wear the crown
I only wanted once to see
Him cry without looking down

Verse 4

His old cap is in the closet
With the coat he always wore
I still reach into the pocket
Though I know what's there by now

Two tickets, folded over
From the last time we could go
I remember almost nothing
But his hand against my coat

He held on coming down the steps
I let the crowd go by
Outside he stopped to catch his breath
And said we'd get them next time

Final Chorus

Chargers and Padres
I hear those names and I'm
A little boy who can't do anything
To keep his dad from crying

For some goddamned reason
I still watch them like before
Chargers and Padres
I turn to tell him the score

Outro

Maybe someday San Diego
Will finally get that parade
I'll find the place he talked about
And stand there anyway

They always get another year

Dad didn't.