G  Em   G  Em

[Verse]
    G                 Em
The children are laughing
       G               Em
In the schoolyard next door
        G                    Em
You can hear 'em through the stone walls
  G           Em          C  Am  C
Stained glass as they play
                 Am   G  Em   G  Em
Seems like yesterday

[Verse]
     G            Em
Your mother she's shaking
       G         Em
Like a baby bird
G                    Em                G
Perched in the front pew of the church
           Em              C  Am
Where they said their vows
               C          Am         G  Em   G
And you're the man of the family now

[Chorus]
           Am                D
You're the man of the family now
        C                           Em    D
No, you can't let 'dm see you break down
              C
When you don't know what to do
             A7                          F     D
You're gonna have to muddle through, somehow
           C                  G  Em   G  Em
You're the man of the family now

[Verse]
     G            Em
Your mother seems older
        G           Em
Now her hair's gone grey
      G                          Em             G
She's passing out roses from the casket bouquet
         Em          C     Am  C
You give one to your wife
        Am                 G   Em   G  Em
But you don't know what to say

[Verse]
           G              Em
'Cause you just had a baby
    G                   Em
You bought your first house
G                       Em
All you can do to tread water
        G                         C     Am  C
Without feeling like you're gonna drown
      Am                 G     Em   G  Em
Every day brings another doubt

[Chorus]
           Am                D
You're the man of the family now
        C                           Em    D
No, you can't let 'dm see you break down
              C
When you don't know what to do
             A7                          F     D
You're gonna have to muddle through, somehow
           C                  G  Em   G  Em
You're the man of the family now

[Bridge]
                  C
Oh, and there's a little voice inside you
            Em              D
Saying, you ain't paid your dues
          C                          Em           D
You ain't big enough to fill the old man's shoes
          C                                 Em
There's a picture on the mantle, where he's reaching out to you
          F                        D            G   C
So you'll follow his example, what else can you do....

[Verse]
             G              Em
You're going bald just like he did
    G                  Em
But that ain't no shock
       G            Em
So you take his old toolbox
       G           Em                     C  Am   C
Make a few small repairs around the house
            Am           G  Em   G  Em
That should hold for now

[Chorus]
           Am                D
You're the man of the family now
        C                           Em    D
No, you can't let 'dm see you break down
              C
When you don't know what to do
             A7                          F     D
You're gonna have to muddle through, somehow
           C                  G  Em   G  Em
You're the man of the family now