Intro G G D D G I was at that smart-ass time of my life G Where I’d pick a fight just to pick a fight D If he said black, I said white D If he took one side I took the other side G The dinner table we sat around G Was more like a battleground D And I lost more times than I won D I woulda learned later on Bm G A That he was always preachin’ ‘bout his past Bm G A I just kept screamin’ “Come on, Dad!” D That was twenty years ago Em You don’t know me at all! G A Tryin’ to talk to you is like talkin’ to the wall D Em Yeah, you gave me my life, but it’s my life to live D/F# G Maybe I don’t wanna live it like you did, Twenty years ago G He was built with blue collar sweat and blood G Squared jaw and a crew cut D A purple heart, a Viet Vet. D He'd tell you every chance he'd get G Always runnin’ down my rock n' roll, G My friends, my hair, my clothes D But one night it got out of control D And right there we came to blows Bm G A And that was just enough to get me gone Bm G A I couldn't wait to prove him wrong! D Twenty years ago Em Struck out on my own G Couldn't tell me nothin’ A That I didn’t already know D I was on my way Em So what the hell did I care D/F# About my old man and his gray hair G Thought about the road I chose A Em Bm Em Bm Twenty years ago (Bridge spoken, Fingerpicked) Em "Well I left as fast as the leaves fell that autumn Bm I never looked back and I never once called him Em but every time I talked to momma Bm I wondered if he was there, or if he even cared Em I figured I walked out of him and the course of our love had run Bm Em momma said 'no, no, you listen to me son, he’s a stubborn man and he won't give in. Bm He believes what he believes, well you’re just like him' G Well 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 Had my pride that I let so much time go by Em Em7 I ran up those stairs and stood by his bed and I cried" D Twenty years ago Em Thought I knew it all G but tryin’ to talk to me A was like talkin’ to a wall D I thought I was a man Em Actin’ like I did D/F# but all I want right now G Is just to be your kid G D/F# G Just before my dad gave up the ghost D/F# G He took my hand and said "son let it go, that was twenty years ago" Twenty years ago