24 Summers Deep

Born and raised in Cedar Lake

Where the porch light’s always shinin’ late, I was raised on backroads, hand-me-down clothes

We’d chase fireflies, cut through cornfields

Old ball caps and rusted wagon wheels. One bed room house, but Mom made do. Love stretched thin but we always pulled through

Lost my dad when I was twelve

Learned too young how to fend for myself

Those nights were cold, but I stayed strong

Found my voice in a backroad song

Now I’m 24 summers deep, From scraped up knees to late-night dreams But I made it through the fire. Left that smoke behind

Yeah, I’ve stumbled, I’ve been lost

Paid my dues and felt the cost. Life moved fast, like my first old Chevy

Some days heavy, some days steady

But I’d take every scar, every tear, every fall on my feet ‘Cause that’s the boy that made the man in me

Graduated high school, Found out real quick the world’s not kind. But you toughen up or get left behind. I learned heartbreak, learned what love ain’t. Found real friends, lost a few in the paint

Had some friends go down the wrong way

And I damn near followed ’til in my head I heard my dad say, “Son, there’s more than this smoke” So I laid it down and walked away

Now I’m 24 summers deep, still got Cedar Lake in my bones

From muddy boots to hard goodbyes

To nights where I felt alone

But I’ve found peace in sober days

And I still talk to dad when I need grace

Yeah, I’d take every bruise, every burn that I beat

’Cause that’s the boy that made the man in me

Sometimes I wish I could call my dad

Tell him I’m okay, tell him I ain’t mad

That I grew up rough but I learned to stand

With a broken past and calloused hands

Lookin’ back on who I was

From bonfire nights to reckless fights

Life’s a ride, like a beat-up six-string

Some chords break, but I still sing

And I’d take every turn, every hard-earned beat

Still climbin’ toward what’s next

With a heart full of dirt-road lessons

And some dues I ain’t done payin’ yet

Life don’t wait, and time don’t beg

But I ain’t got a single regret

Now I’m 24 summers deep, and I ain’t the kid I used to be

Still got that small-town fire

And a heart that’s learned to trust

Life ain’t fair, but it’s been real

Every scar helped me heal

So I’d take every wrong turn and every cracked dream

Yeah, that’s the boy that made the man in me

Yeah, 24 summers deep…

Still walkin’ proud, still stayin’ clean