Older Than My Years

[Verse 1]
Two sets of shoes
Parked by the door
Yours still muddy from
Playing in the yard before
Mom on the couch
Talking low with the TV on
I hear the words
But I know something’s wrong
[Chorus]
So I stay strong in my mind
Hold this house from the inside
I’m a kid on the outside
But I’m older than my years tonight
Got my brothers on my left and right
If they fall
I’m gonna make it right
I can’t slow down
I can’t disappear
I’m older than my years
[Verse 2]
Bills on the table
Names I don’t understand
Nurses in the hallway
Plastic bracelets on her hand
You ask me
“Is she okay?”
I say
“Yeah
She’s just tired today”
Swallow my fear
So you don’t see it in my face
[Chorus]
I stay strong in my mind
Hold this house from the inside
I’m a kid on the outside
But I’m older than my years tonight
Got my brothers on my left and right
If they fall
I’m gonna make it right
I can’t break down when the pain gets near
I’m older than my years
[Bridge]
I make your cereal
Pack your bag (hey)
Learn to sign where they draw the lines
Tuck you in
Then fall apart
In the dark
Where nobody finds
But every time we laugh in the kitchen light
Every time she smiles through the tired eyes
I remember why I fight
Why I fight
[Chorus]
I stay strong in my mind
Hold this house from the inside
We were kids on the outside
But we’re older than our years tonight
Got my brothers on my left and right (oh yeah)
And our mama in the hardest fight
Hand in hand
We’re still all here
We’re older than our years
[Outro]
Two sets of shoes
Parked by the door
I’ll be watching over you
Till you don’t need watching anymore

Warm acoustic pop with male vocals, fingerpicked guitar and soft piano. First verse intimate and close-mic, then drums and bass bloom in the first chorus. Subtle strings lift the second chorus, gang-style backing vocals on the final hook for a family-anthem feel, ending on a stripped guitar-and-voice tag., strong