A kid who lost his father in 1996
The day he left his youngest child, who received all his love
I couldn’t believe it, I hoped it was a dream
The next day, I was bent over, the floor seemed to give in
I remember how my friends gathered around me on the apartment stairs
They said “be strong” but those words strengthlessly fell off
It was weird to even say thank you to them
It felt like only I changed, it was hard to accept the situation
It was probably the first time I prayed
If my dad ever brings me fishing again
I won’t ever show that I’m bored
Show me the car that’s parked in space 3545 again
My family doesn’t laugh much anymore
Dinner time becomes so quiet
I just hear the sound of the dishes being washed
Usually, I’d clean my dad’s shoes then he’d give me a dollar even though his shoes were a mess
There used to be five pairs of shoes in the foyer but now there’s four
Our Minho, now you’re the only man of the house
You need to protect your mom, hurry and grow up strong

I’m a son, my dad’s son
If it wasn’t for that day
Would my life have been different?
Would me personality be the same?
I’m a son
Proudly
I’ve walked my path
I’ve walked my path, I’ve walked my path

In fourth grade
I compared my lunch to the other kids in my class
Without even knowing how bad that was
I begged my mom to pack me something else
My middle sister never had new clothes but only wore hand me down from my older sister
My oldest sister always came in top three in her class
Because she has to help mom
Because she’s the first one who could make money out of us three
My sisters’ adolescence was probably harder than anyone elses
I was too young to know that
When my teacher asked all kids with widowed mothers to raise their hands
I was too embarrassed to raise my hand
But my widowed mother’s fingers were aching
From making dough in the restaurant
When a girl harshly said “you don’t even have a dad”
I couldn’t say anything and just stood there

I’m a son, my mom’s son
If it wasn’t for that day
Would my life have been different?
Would me personality be the same?
I’m a son
Proudly
I’ve walked my path
I’ve walked my path, I’ve walked my path

My dad’s desk that we didn’t throw away but kept just as it is, is filled with books
They said he couldn’t go to Seoul National University because we didn’t have money
Even late at night after he came home from work, he’d sit at his desk
I thought adults were all that way
There are some memories I don’t have
On Sundays, my dad sat me on his knee and scrubbed my body
I used to think it was a boring time
But it’s a memory that I remember the smell and even the sound
Now I got used to going to the bathhouse alone
After I turned 15, I told people I don’t have a dad first
Before kids asked me what my dad does
Because I didn’t like seeing their faces afterwards
Maybe it’s good cuz I don’t have to see my dad’s back bending
I only know the best image of my dad
If I had one wish, I’d have a drink with my dad
If he saw me right now, if he saw my lost twenties
If he saw the family photo of my sister who is now married
If he saw the sons and daughters of his sons and daughters

I’m a son, my dad’s son
If it wasn’t for that day
Would my life have been different?
Would me personality be the same?
I’m a son
Proudly
I’ve walked my path
I’ve walked my path, I’ve walked my path