Emily comes home from school Grabs onto her daddy's hand He says, "Baby girl, what's wrong with you?" She says, "Please don't make me go back there again."
She said, "I wish there was someway to make them stop it." So he drives down to that principles office And says, "I didn't bring her up so they could cut her down I didn't bring her here so they could shut her out I'd live my whole damn life to see that little girl smile So why are tears pouring down that sweet face? She wasn't brought up that way."
Emily's home late again He sees that boy drive away Oh but something's different this time She doesn't have too much to say She said, "He tried but there's just some things I won't do" And through the tears she said, "I couldn't do that to you"
And he said, "I didn't bring you up so he could wear you down Take that innocent heart and turn it inside out I'd live my whole damn life to see my little girl smile So don't let nobody take that away You weren't brought up that way."
The phone rings on a rainy night Says, "It's Officer Tate" He said, "Sir, there's been an accident You'd better come down here right away A drunken driver missed an overpass And Emily she's fading fast."
He says, "God I didn't bring her up to watch them lay her down Nearly killed me the day they put her mama in the ground Only thing that kept me alive was that little girls smile So please don't take that away It won't be easy taking her today, she wasn't brought up that way."
He stands over the hospital bed Emily opens her eyes