[Verse 1]
Granddad kept his boots by the back door
Dust on the leather, mud on the sole
Said, "Boy, these took me clean across Texas
Chasing a life I never could hold"
He'd hum along low to the kitchen radio
Coffee in a chipped old cup
"Remember this part," he would whisper
"When the whole crowd stands up"
[Chorus]
Back when the radio sang
And we knew every word by heart
Every line felt like it was written
For our little town, for our busted-up hearts
We were laughing, we were crying
All in the very same song
Back when the radio sang
It felt like the world sang along
[Verse 2]
Momma had a picture on the icebox
Her in a sundress, hair all wild
Said, "That was the summer I almost left here
Till your daddy smiled like a foolish child"
We'd ride in that rusted blue pickup
Windows stuck halfway down
She'd turn it up loud on the chorus
And spin me in circles through town
[Chorus]
Back when the radio sang
And we knew every word by heart
Every line felt like it was written
For our little town, for our busted-up hearts
We were laughing, we were crying
All in the very same song
Back when the radio sang
It felt like the world sang along
[Bridge]
Now my own boy's feet on this old wood floor
He asks why the songs sound old
I say, "Close your eyes, let the story in
That's how the truest ones get told" (oh yeah)
[Chorus]
Back when the radio sang
And we knew every word by heart
Every line felt like it was written
For our little town, for our busted-up hearts
We were young then, we were older
All in the very same song
Back when the radio sang
It felt like the world sang along
Yeah, back when the radio sang
It felt like we all belonged