[Chorus] Once, I was eight years old, my mother told me "Chase the quiet roads, the noise will leave you lonely" Once, I was eight years old [Verse 1] It was a small, small town, but we felt like giants Running wild with fear and fire, we were young and defiant By thirteen, scars and silence made us tighter No gold, just dreams, so we burned the nights brighter [Chorus] Once, I was thirteen years old, my father told me "Don’t lose your soul while trying to be holy" Once, I was thirteen years old [Verse 2] I used to draw in dark, write thoughts I couldn't say Words became my lantern, lighting up the grey Fame was never real — it faded when it found me Only ones who see the cracks could ever stay around me [Chorus] Once, I was twenty-one, my name got spoken Underneath the neon dreams, my heart stayed broken Once, I was twenty-one [Bridge] Soon, I'll be thirty-three, the songs all carried me Through cities I forgot and nights I failed to see Soon, I’ll be thirty-three [Verse 3] Now I’m learning time don’t heal — it just rewinds I tell my kid the stories I could never find Some friends are ghosts, some stayed near the flame Some I lost in verses I still sing their names [Chorus] One day I’ll be sixty years, still chasing answers Will I be surrounded, or just haunted dancers? I wrote to say “I’m sorry” in a song I never sent I hope my kid remembers where his father went [Breakdown] One day I’ll be sixty years, will my hands still tremble? Or will the echoes in the house still feel gentle? One day I’ll be sixty years [Chorus] Once, I was eight years old, my mother told me "Don’t lose your fire to the ones who hold it coldly" Once, I was eight years old Once, I was eight years old
