Years I Can Never Get Back

Pretty much describing my childhood

I missed those days where I use to skin both my knees         

Pushin' my Hot Wheels and Tonka trucks around                  

Catchin' horny toads and climbin' hackberry trees                           

And listening to all of those wonderful south Texas sounds

In the back of a pick up truck is where I would ride                 

Heading down the creek to drown some worms  

An igloo ice chest filled with Dr. Peppers inside                                   

And the world and it's issues were the least of our concern                          

We made homemade ramps to jump our bikes                            

When it would rain, we would make mud pies                                     

In jars, is where we would put fireflies at night                                     

We surely made those Mongooses soar and fly

Those are the years  that I can never get back                                   

I'm just grateful that those memories are still intact                             

We surely drove both of our parents nuts  

And received our fair share of blistered butts                          

Where whoopin's were normal, even the occasional smack            

Yeah, those are the years that I can never get back

Those Saturday morning cartoons were the best            

And our breakfast cereals always had the best prize                       

Getting Mario to world 8 was our lifelong quest                    

There's more to our childhood that what meets the eye                                  

Sunday Morning's we were sitting right there on the pew         

We were raises to respect our elders too you see                            

To take pride in the Flag and stand for the Anthem too                             

To thank a soldier for serving and fighting for our country           

And we didn't interrupt any of the adult's conversations          

And we spoke only and when we were spoken too                  

Some of our best friends were from our own imagination   

Where they would put monkey blood on our boo boo's

We could play all day and night and the parents never worried         

You could leave your house and vehicles unlocked during the night      

Where secrets where kept silent and some hidden and buried   

Where faith and family values was always kept in plain sight                                    

Family reunions and funerals is where they would all gather               

Where they reminisce and catch up, share laughter and woes                 

But the bloodline was strong and that's truly what did matter                 

And on Saturday night there'd be a card game or dominoes               

There's nothing like finding an old vhs cassette and tape a show                             

Whether it was a cartoon or a movie like those classic Godzilla's                                     

There was Nickelodeon, Looney Tunes, or Fraggle Rock on HBO   

And you had Neopolitan ice cream of strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla

Those are the years that I can never get back                          

Those aren't made up memories but actual facts  

We drove our folks as they say, "Up the wall"  

Where punishment was never frowned upon                                      

Where hard work was rewarded even as you bust your back                

Yeah, those are the years that I can never get back

JWM 9-1-21