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 till 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 it's 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
Till 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

I left as fast as the leaves fell that autumn
I never looked back and I never once called him
But every time I talked to Momma
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, Momma 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"