We were twenty-something, broke and tired
Hand-me-down cribs, dreams still wired
Four little mouths, a beat-up floor
Prayin’ the paycheck stretched a little more
No sleep, no plan, just love and noise
Sticky fingers, scattered toys
Everybody said “man, you’re in deep”
Nobody said “this goes fast, don’t blink”
Every late night, every cry
Just tryin’ to make it through alive
I didn’t know back then somehow
These would be the nights I miss right now
Nobody tells you you’re in the good old days
Till they’re gone and time don’t wait
You hold ‘em close, then they slip away
Grow wings, find roads, make their own names
I’m proud as hell, but it still hurts bad
Those babies ain’t babies, and damn… that’s sad
I’d give anything just to rewind time
One more hug, one more night
Nobody tells you when you’re young and strong
That the good old days don’t last this long
I watched ‘em start their lives and chase their gains
New routines, new friends, different lanes
Phones stay quiet most nights now
Guess I’m not the first call somehow
I tell myself it’s just a phase
This quiet’s part of growin’ pains
Maybe in five, maybe ten years time
I’ll hear “hey Dad” on the other line
I’d trade every calm, every easy day
For a mess on the floor and a game to play
Back when “Dad” was all rugged and tough
And that was somehow always enough
Nobody tells you you’re in the good old days
Till they’re gone and time don’t wait
You hold ‘em close, then they slip away
Grow wings, find roads, make their own names
I’m proud as hell, but it still hurts bad
Those babies ain’t babies, and damn… that’s sad
I’d give anything just to rewind time
One more hug, one more night
Nobody tells you when you’re young and strong
That the good old days don’t last this long
(strip it down here – acoustic, emotional)
I’d sit on the floor, let the whole world wait
Just to hear ‘em laugh, call my name
I’d give up sleep, money, peace of mind
Just to freeze that moment in time
I’m happy for ‘em, God knows it’s true
But this empty house don’t feel like home without all of you
(bigger, fuller)
Nobody tells you you’re in the good old days
Till the echoes fade and the house don’t shake
You spend your youth just tryin’ to survive
Now you’d sell your soul just to rewind
I raised ‘em right, they’re livin’ life
But this quiet cuts like a knife
I love ‘em more than words can say
Even when it hurts me every day
Yeah, nobody tells you when you’re young and strong
That the good old days… are gone
Outro
If I could go back, man I swear I’d stay
Right there… in those good old days
nightwerks
