Wouldn’t Have Appreciated It Then

Yeah, I remember them early days

Young country boy in the big ol city

Head down, just grindin

Dreamin about a life I couldnt yet afford

I was walkin through them mansions, shoes full of dust

Watchin fancy cars roll by, wonderin who I could trust

Mall lights shinin, my pockets were thin

But my dreams was heavy, Lord, I kept em within

Them city folks smiled like they already won

While I was countin dollars, waitin on the sun

Didnt have much, but I had my pride

And a little voice sayin, boy, just keep that stride

Now I see, it wasnt bout the chrome or the gold

Its bout the stories a man carries when hes old

I got a woman standin right by my side

Wouldnt trade that love for the richest ride

All that I got came slow and real

Wouldnt have appreciated it then, the way I feel

Now them dreams I chased, I finally caught

But Lord knows it took every tear I fought

From long nights hustlin to prayers I said

I earned every crumb, every place I fed

Used to think money could ease the pain

But wisdom only comes through the rain

Now I sip slow, watch my blessings roll

Cause peace dont come from what you hold

Now I see, it wasnt bout the chrome or the gold

Its bout the stories a man carries when hes old

I got a woman standin right by my side

Wouldnt trade that love for the richest ride

All that I got came slow and real

Wouldnt have appreciated it then, the way I feel

Mmm, time done taught me more than fame

Cant buy peace, cant buy your name

I was blind back then, but now I see

The richest mans the one whos free

So to that young country boy starin through them gates

Keep grindin, keep prayin, and wait

One day youll realize when the storm has passed

Whats meant for you gon come, and its built to last