She was nine years old i took her out on the boat
Broke out the tackle box and started to troll
One hit the line and she reeled it right in
Then she did it again and again
With an innocent grin she looked up at me asking
Dad why they call it fishin'
Not catchin'

I said sometimes you hook 'em
Sometimes you don't
Some days they almost jump in the boat
Some of them are keepers
Some you throw back
Baby girl life is like that
You just gotta keep on castin' and wishin'
That's why they call it fishin

Ten years later she was out on her own
Came home from college with her heart broke
One pretty spring day we were out on the water
Just having a talk, father and daughter
And i said do you remember back when you were asking
This is why they call it fishin'
Not catchin'

I said sometimes you hook em
Sometimes you don't
Some days they almost jump in the boat
Some of them are keepers
Some you throw back
Baby girl life is like that
You just gotta keep on casting and wishing
That's why they call it fishin'

Now she's married got a kid
Takes her fishing like i did
Now when she looks up at her askin'
Momma why they call it fishin' and not catchin'

She said sometimes you hook em
Sometimes you don't
Some days they almost jump in the boat
Some are keepers
Some you throw back
Baby girl life is like that
You just gotta keep on castin' and wishin'
Yeah you just gotta keep on castin' and wishin'
And that's why they call it fishin
That's why they call it fishin'