Jeffrey Steele - 20 Years Ago Lyrics

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"