A fine Daytona afternoon, the season just begun 
My boys were running one and two, and I was having fun 
I prob'ly could have won the thing, but something held me back 
I was busy watching Dale and Mike, and holding off the pack 

I was looking toward the front and not really to the rear 
Something tapped me on my bumper, but still I had no fear 
I thought it might be Sterling, I knew he was nearby 
When Sterling smells the checkered flag, I'll tell you, he ain't shy

 I slipped a bit, I turned the wheel, I sensed something very odd 
It wasn't Sterling's tap I felt, it was the tap of God 
"Not now", I said, "I'm racing hard, there's work still here to do" 
"Your time is up", he whispered low, "So say a quick adieu" 

I wasn't really ready, but I didn't have a choice 
He'd tapped me on the bumper and I'd heard his hallowed voice 
So I did as He instructed, I just packed it in and left 
I guess it can't be helped I left some of you bereft 

Did you see the birds upon the wall as they scattered in the breeze? 
Will it make it any easier to know that one of them was me? 
There was ol' Davey, Dad, and Neil, some other guys I've known 
And they all came down to Daytona just to escort me back home 

Hey!, Congratulations Mikey! You made a worthy run 
I wish you many, many more, you're wins have just begun 
All that fun you had in victory lane, I was proud as proud could be 
Did you see the seagull flying low? Yeah, Mikey, that was me! 

So, friends and fans and family, don't mourn me for too long 
Get on with life, take care of things, be brave, be proud, be strong 
I'll surely miss you, everyone, about that I will not lie 
But as long as you remember me, I didn't really die 

R.I.P 
Dale Earnhardt