[Intro]
[room tone + cassette click]
hey—
slow down a little

[Verse 1]
너는 작은 운동화 끈도
맨날 반대로 묶고
물 마시다 꼭 한 번씩
옷에 흘리고 웃어

창문에 비친 네 얼굴
가만히 보고 있으면
세상에 좋은 것들은
다 너를 닮은 것 같아

[Pre-Chorus]
손가락 사이 작은 손
괜히 더 꼭 잡게 돼
언젠가는 놓아야 할까 봐
벌써 조금 무서워져

[Chorus]
내 딸
네 웃음 하나에
집 안의 불빛까지 달라져

내 딸
너를 돌아보면
세상이 조금 느려져

넘어져도 괜찮아
천천히 크면 돼
아빠는 여기 있을게
늘 같은 자리에서

[Verse 2]
색연필로 그린 하늘은
맨날 보라색인데
넌 그게 더 예쁘다며
진지하게 설명해

소파 위에 잠든 얼굴
TV 불빛 흔들리고
나는 숨도 조용히 쉬어
혹시 네가 깰까 봐

[Pre-Chorus]
가끔 네 뒷모습 보면
시간이 너무 빠르네
아직은 내 품 안에 있는데
왜 벌써 그리워질까

[Chorus]
내 딸
네 웃음 하나에
집 안의 불빛까지 달라져

내 딸
너를 돌아보면
세상이 조금 느려져

실수해도 괜찮아
조금 늦어도 돼
아빠는 네 편이야
그건 절대 안 변해

[Bridge]
[half-spoken + brushed drums fade]
나중에 아주 늦은 밤
혼자 울게 되는 날 와도
현관 불빛 아래
네 신발은 늘 놓여 있을 거야

[Final Chorus]
내 딸
언젠가 너는
나 없이 더 멀리 걷겠지만

내 딸
횡단보도 앞에서
한 번쯤 뒤돌아봐 줘

겁나는 날이 오면
잠깐 쉬어가도 돼
아빠는 여기 있을게
네가 오던 길 끝에서

[Outro]
[soft humming + tape hiss]
my little girl—
don’t grow too fast
not tonight



[Intro]
[room tone + cassette click]
hey—
slow down a little

[Verse 1]
You still tie your little shoelaces
The wrong way every time
And whenever you drink your water
You spill some on your shirt and laugh

When I look at your face
Reflected in the window
It feels like every good thing in this world
Looks a little bit like you

[Pre-Chorus]
Your tiny hand between my fingers
Makes me hold on tighter for no reason
I think I’m already scared
Of the day I’ll have to let go

[Chorus]
My daughter
One smile from you
Changes the light inside this house

My daughter
When I turn and look at you
The whole world starts slowing down

It’s okay if you fall sometimes
You can grow up slowly
Dad will stay right here
In the same place as always

[Verse 2]
The sky you draw with colored pencils
Is always purple somehow
And when I ask you why
You tell me it just looks prettier that way

Your face asleep on the couch
With the TV light shaking softly
I even breathe more quietly
In case I wake you up

[Pre-Chorus]
Sometimes when I see you from behind
Time feels way too fast
You’re still small enough for my arms
So why do I already miss this?

[Chorus]
My daughter
One smile from you
Changes the light inside this house

My daughter
When I turn and look at you
The whole world starts slowing down

It’s okay to make mistakes
It’s okay to be a little late
Dad is always on your side
That will never change

[Bridge]
[half-spoken + brushed drums fade]
Even someday late at night
When you end up crying by yourself
Under the porch light
Your shoes will always have a place here

[Final Chorus]
My daughter
Someday you’ll walk farther
Farther than I’ll ever be able to follow

My daughter
At the crosswalk someday
Turn around once and look for me

If life ever feels too scary
You can stop and rest awhile
Dad will stay right here
At the end of the road you came from

[Outro]
[soft humming + tape hiss]
my little girl—
don’t grow too fast
not tonight