From the recording Back Then when It Meant Something
Lyrics
Verse 1
My father sat me down one night,
Said, “Son, you better get this right—
A man’s word is where he stands,
More than talk, the good book demands.”
He said, “Don’t promise what you won’t keep,
And don’t give up when pain runs deep,
‘Cause truth don’t bend and love don’t run,
That’s how it’s supposed to be done.”
Pre-Chorus
But I look around these days and see
A world that’s not the same as it used to be....
Chorus
I miss those days when it meant something,
When a man’s word was his bond.
When love was more than just a moment,
You held on and held on.
When kids didn’t have to be afraid,
Just to walk outside and play,
And every Sunday morning found us all
Bowin’ our heads to pray.
We didn’t have it all, but we had enough—
Back then when it meant something.
Verse 2
There was a phone hangin’ on the wall,
Girls waitin’ on a boy to call,
We’d sit outside and wave hello
To every car that drove by slow.
Three channels on a TV set,
And listened to music on an old cassette
We made our own kind of memories,
With nothin’ but time and family.
Pre-Chorus
Now the world is right in our hands,
Still feels like we don’t understand…
Chorus
I miss those days when it meant something,
When a man’s word was his bond.
When love was more than just a moment,
You held on and held on.
When kids didn’t have to be afraid,
Just to walk outside and play,
And every Sunday morning found us all
Bowin’ our heads to pray.
We didn’t have it all, but we had enough—
Back then when it meant something.
Verse 3
You’d see the same smiling faces there,
At the diner or county fair,
Everybody knew your name,
And nobody played it like a game.
If you were wrong, they’d let you know,
But they’d still help you when you’d go,
‘Cause right was right and wrong was clear,
And folks still looked out for you here.
Pre-Chorus
If I close my eyes I can still see
the way it used to be
Chorus
I miss those days when it meant something,
When a man’s word was his bond.
When love was more than just a moment,
You held on and held on.
When kids didn’t have to be afraid,
Just to walk outside and play,
And every Sunday morning found us all
Bowin’ our heads to pray.
We didn’t have it all, but we had enough—
Back then when it meant something.
Bridge
Momma shelling black-eyed peas
Dreamin’ ‘bout us kids, what our lives would be,
Red, white, and blue., and all of its pride
It was somethin’ we all held deep inside.
Oh, I know we can’t turn back time,.......
But maybe we can change a few minds…
Final Chorus
Let’s make it mean something,
When we give our word again.
Let’s make love more than a moment,
Let it last like it did back then.
Let’s raise our kids without that fear,
Put a little more faith back here,
We might find that we have time..............
To do something
Yeah, wouldn't that be something
If we make it mean something
If we make it mean something