First Cap in the Air

Twelve years of morning bells Come down to one wide sky I drove you to that schoolyard when your backpack swallowed you Now your shoulders fill that gown out like I always knew they'd do The yearbook's signed in twenty colors, locker cleaned out bare And the marching band is playing you out into the air Hold the moment, son You only get this one First cap in the air, whole sky overhead Every road you haven't taken yet Twelve years in one throw, let it fly, let it go You're standing in the doorway now First cap in the air There were mornings I dragged you out of bed by your last name Essays at eleven-thirty, glory, growing pains The summer jobs, the learner's permit, curfews barely kept Every stumble was a stair, look how high you've stepped The tassel's on the left now The world is on the right First cap in the air, whole sky overhead Every road you haven't taken yet Twelve years in one throw, let it fly, let it go You're standing in the doorway now First cap in the air Someday you'll stand in bleachers watching some kid of your own Throw their future at the clouds — and you'll know what I know now The letting go is how they fly First cap in the air, whole sky overhead Every road you haven't taken yet Twelve years in one throw, let it fly, let it go You're standing in the doorway now First cap in the air Go on, son — catch it on the way up The whole sky's yours tonight