It was the first day off to school
For my daughter Claire
She wore a yellow dress
And matching ribbon in her hair
I held her tiny hand
As we walked down the corridor
She gripped my hand much tighter
As we got close to her class door

I got down on my knees
And I kissed her on the head
She clutched me in my arms
She was crying as she said
Daddy, please don’t leave me here
She begged me not to go
I looked her in her frightened eyes
And told her she could know

I’ll never leave you, my darling Claire
Wherever life takes you I’ll always be there
But I knew the moment I let go of her hand
I’d never know this feeling again

I blinked and we were driving
To her college freshman year
That drive with just the two of us
I’ll always hold so dear
I moved her in her dorm room
And I hugged her at her door
It was hard to let her go
Because I never loved her more

I sat out in the car
With an emptiness inside
Maybe because I knew deep down
What I just left behind
A most precious chapter in my life
Had just come to an end
I’d miss her as a daughter
And I’d miss her as a friend

And I thought…

I’ll never leave you, my darling Claire
Wherever life takes you I’ll always be there
But I knew the moment I let go of her hand
I’d never know this feeling again

And before I knew it we were walking
Down another aisle
She sparkled in a white dress
And glowed with a great smile
And I kissed on her forehead
And I watched her turn away
I looked at her with so much pride
And I heard her husband say

I’ll never leave you, my darling Claire
Wherever life takes you I’ll always be there
And I knew when he placed the ring on her hand
I‘d never know this feeling again

Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Dunne