This is a country song I wrote about everything that goes into growing up and becoming a strong and healthy man. It's dedicated to my two sons, and really to all the young men in this world whose strength will one day be needed (alongside strong and healthy women) to keep us moving in the right direction.
I hope this encourages parents and guardians in letting them grow up strong as well, protecting them but giving them the space and responsibilities needed to learn and improve.
I hope this encourages parents and guardians in letting them grow up strong as well, protecting them but giving them the space and responsibilities needed to learn and improve.
[Intro]
Way on back when I was a boy
The kids were left to play.
Countless hours in the winter snow,
And endless summer days.
Arguments and laughter,
Mistakes you had to pay.
Learning 'bout what life was.
This was the way.
[Verse]
Fisher-Price and playing nice
And Matchbox cars to boot.
Building homes with Lincoln logs
And Legos underfoot.
Playing under streetlights
Till we were whistled in.
Shaking hands with the other team
No matter who would win.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Verse]
Paper routes and mowing grass
And trading baseball cards.
Playing catch with footballs
And freeze tag in the yard.
Dr. Seuss and Judy Blume
And baseball games at night.
Playing up in tree forts,
And getting into fights.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Verse]
Campfires out on beaches
Sparklers burning bright
Cardboard forts and summer shorts
And crickets through the night.
Sledding, skating, swimming,
Stomping puddles in the rain.
Racing sticks down running streams
Stubbing toes and feeling pain.
[Verse]
Green Machines and ice cream.
Saturday cartoons.
Sunday morning church with friends.
Staring at the moon.
Raking leaves and jumping in.
Cops and robbers on our bikes.
Candy stores and RC cars.
Camping, fishing, hikes.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Outro]
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
Way on back when I was a boy
The kids were left to play.
Countless hours in the winter snow,
And endless summer days.
Arguments and laughter,
Mistakes you had to pay.
Learning 'bout what life was.
This was the way.
[Verse]
Fisher-Price and playing nice
And Matchbox cars to boot.
Building homes with Lincoln logs
And Legos underfoot.
Playing under streetlights
Till we were whistled in.
Shaking hands with the other team
No matter who would win.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Verse]
Paper routes and mowing grass
And trading baseball cards.
Playing catch with footballs
And freeze tag in the yard.
Dr. Seuss and Judy Blume
And baseball games at night.
Playing up in tree forts,
And getting into fights.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Verse]
Campfires out on beaches
Sparklers burning bright
Cardboard forts and summer shorts
And crickets through the night.
Sledding, skating, swimming,
Stomping puddles in the rain.
Racing sticks down running streams
Stubbing toes and feeling pain.
[Verse]
Green Machines and ice cream.
Saturday cartoons.
Sunday morning church with friends.
Staring at the moon.
Raking leaves and jumping in.
Cops and robbers on our bikes.
Candy stores and RC cars.
Camping, fishing, hikes.
[Chorus]
These are the things that make a boy
Into who he’s going to be.
Smiles and tears and facing fears,
Home runs and scrapes on knees.
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
[Outro]
Loving, hugging, hurting.
Learning everything he can.
Getting outdoors and doing chores.
Let that boy become a man.
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