hitting on those highs and lows of life with friends: (Heavy, slightly distorted guitar riff kicks in - think "Control" era Puddle of Mudd with a hint of "Cherub Rock" fuzz) (Verse 1) Cracked asphalt memories, under a hazy streetlamp glow Sneaking smokes and stolen beers, watching the summer nights grow slow You were there, man, right beside, a knuckle-scraped and grinning face Dreaming 'bout some distant shore, escaping this forgotten place (Pre-Chorus) Radio spitting out some grunge, the air was thick and sweet Didn't know the fragile edge, the bitter taste of concrete (Chorus - Powerful, slightly strained vocals with a driving drum beat and layered guitars) Yeah, we were kings of nothing then, with holes ripped in our jeans Laughing 'til our stomachs hurt, living out our teenage scenes Then the girls walked by like sunlight, tangled up our simple plans Felt that rush of something new, held love right in our hands But the good times ain't forever, shadows creep in through the cracks Now I raise a glass to yesterday, ain't no turning back (Verse 2) Remember Sarah by the river? Eyes like a stormy, bruised sky blue We swore our love would conquer all, every damn thing we'd go through Held her tight beneath the bleachers, felt a fire in my soul Didn't see the darkness waiting, taking its inevitable toll (Pre-Chorus) That phone call in the dead of night, a silence sharp and cold Suddenly the world went sideways, a story left untold (Chorus - More intense, with a raw emotional edge) Yeah, we were kings of nothing then, with holes ripped in our jeans Laughing 'til our stomachs hurt, living out our teenage scenes Then the girls walked by like sunlight, tangled up our simple plans Felt that rush of something new, held love right in our hands But the good times ain't forever, shadows creep in through the cracks Now I raise a glass to yesterday, ain't no turning back (Bridge - Tempo slows slightly, guitar becomes more melodic and swirling, vocals more introspective) Years have spun like broken records, faces etched with lines of time Some have drifted out of orbit, leaving only faded rhymes We carry pieces of the wreckage, the laughter and the bitter sting Trying to make some goddamn sense of what tomorrow's gonna bring (Guitar solo - Melodic but with a heavy, slightly distorted tone, building in intensity and then fading back) (Chorus - Returns with full force, a mix of defiance and regret) Yeah, we were kings of nothing then, with holes ripped in our jeans Laughing 'til our stomachs hurt, living out our teenage scenes Then the girls walked by like sunlight, tangled up our simple plans Felt that rush of something new, held love right in our hands But the good times ain't forever, shadows creep in through the cracks Now I raise a glass to yesterday, ain't no turning back (Outro - Guitar riff repeats and fades out with a final, sustained distorted chord)

Kings pf our Youth