A Song Instead of a Speech

I had a speech, I swear I wrote it Then I tore it up and brought this instead I've known you since the lawnmower you borrowed That never found its way back to my shed I rode a thousand miles in your bad weather Lost the map out the window, drove ahead So raise whatever's in your hand This part you'll want to hear Here's a song instead of a speech, my friend 'Cause paper couldn't hold what I have seen You found the one who laughs before the punchline lands So lift your glass — this is everything I mean I was there the night you said her name out loud You grinned like you'd been let in on the sun You burned the toast, you learned to dance in secret I watched you practice — buddy, now it's done So raise whatever's in your hand This part you'll want to hear Here's a song instead of a speech, my friend 'Cause paper couldn't hold what I have seen You found the one who laughs before the punchline lands So lift your glass — this is everything I mean And someday when your kids ask how it started Tell them some fool sang it better than he talked Tell them the whole room stood up when the chorus hit And nobody remembers what the speeches said Here's a song instead of a speech, my friend 'Cause paper couldn't hold what I have seen You found the one who laughs before the punchline lands So lift your glass — this is everything I mean I had a speech, I swear I wrote it But you two deserved a song