20 years ago

Jeffrey Steele


I was at that smart ass time of my life

I'd pick a fight just to pick a fight

He said black I said white

If he took one side I took the other side

Dinner table we sat around was 

More like a battleground

Where I lost more times than I won

Wouldn't learn til later on

He was always preachin about his past

I just kept screamin' come on dad


That was 20 years ago you don't know me at all

Trying to talk to you is like talking to a wall

Yea you gave me my life but its my life to live

And maybe I don't wanna live it like you did

20 years ago


He was built from blue collar sweat and blood

Square jaw and a crew cut a purple heart a Viet vet

And he'd tell you every chance he'd get

Always runnin' down my rock & roll

My friends, my hair, and my clothes

Til it all got out of control

And one night it finally came to blows

That was just enough to get me gone

I couldn't wait to prove him wrong


20 years ago I struck out on my own

He couldn't tell me nothin'

I didn't already know

Yea I was on my way

So what the hell did I care

With my old man and his gray hair

Thought about the road I chose

20 years ago


(spoken)

I left as fast as the leaves fell that autum I never looked back and I never once called him

But every time I talked to moma I wondered if he was there

Or if he even cared I figured I walked out on him and the course of our love

Had run moma said no no you listen to me son he's a stubborn man and he won't give in

He believes what he believes and you're just like him And I could tell by her voice there was something wrong she broke down

and said he ain't got long So I caught the next plane home thought about all the years gone And how my pride had let so much

time go by ran up those stairs and I stood by his bed and cried


20 years ago I thought I knew it all

but tryin to talk to me is like talking to a wall

Yea thought I was a man but actin' like I did

But all I want right now is just to be your kid

And just before my dad gave up the ghost 

He took my hand and said son let it go

That was 20 years ago

20 years ago