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