If you ain't hard, they won't listen
If you ain't tough then they will never understand
'Cause they're strong like wild horses
They're crazy as the wind

'Cause they don't know what's coming
And they rarely choose the way that you had planned
So you watch'em learn from falling
And help'em up if you can

Raising a rookie
Doing the best we can
Helping them find their way
It takes more than years to make a man
Raising a rookie
All I can do is light the road
I know it's a heavy load, sometimes
God knows I'm tryin'

You see what makes them special
You'd do everything and anything it takes
Just to know that they would make it
Through the trials and the heartaches

Raising a rookie
Doing the best we can
Helping them find their way
It takes more than years to make a man
Raising a rookie
All I can do is light the road
I know it's a heavy load, sometimes
God knows I'm tryin'
Oh I'm tryin'

And they teach you to be humble
While the time and the worry line your face
And you learn how to hold your breath
How a desperate heart can pray

Raising a rookie
Doing the best we can
Helping them find their way
It takes more than years to make a man
Raising a rookie
All I can do is light the road
I know it's a heavy load, sometimes
God knows I'm tryin'

Raising a rookie
Doing the best we can
Helping them find their way
It takes more than years to make a man
Raising a rookie
All I can do is light the road
I know it's a heavy load, sometimes
God knows I'm tryin'