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

Good Old Days Gone