Early morning on the river side
Saw an old man waitin' for a bite
We started talkin'
And he took me back in time
He said, "I was young, and thought I'd always be
"Then I woke up, now, I'm eighty-three
"There's so much I've missed, oh, how I wish
"I could get back all that time I wasted
"I see the tears of a young bride
"The morning of our first fight
"I should have held her tight
"And on the day that my momma died
"I hung up the phone and never said goodbye
"Don't let it slip on, don't let it slip on
"Don't let it slip on by"
Well, he looked up with tears in his eyes
Said, "I'm not sure if you were lookin' for advice
"There's just something about you
"That reminds me of me
"It ain't easy always looking back
"But it seems these days, that's all I have
"And what hurts me the most is knowin' what could've been
"And if I listen real close, sometimes, I can
"Hear the sound of my little boy
"Sayin', 'Daddy, can you come play with me
"But I was too busy, then one day
"My baby grew up and went to war
"I never thought he'd be gone in the blink of an eye
"So don't let it slip on, don't let it slip on
"Don't let it slip on by"
I shook the old man's hand
And I thanked him, and I drove home
As fast as I could go
Just to let her know
That I need her, that I love her
That I'm never gonna let another moment like this
Slip on by
Don't let it slip on by
We're only here for a little while
And God only gives us so much precious time
Don't let it slip on, don't let it slip on
Don't let it slip on by
Don't let it slip on by
