daddy found an empty 12 pack in the trunk
that got me and jimmy drunk the night i turned 17
he was mad as hell and yelled you coulda killed yourself

or someone else if you'd wrapped that thing around a tree
he said you're grounded for the summer
and now those keys are mine'

it didn't feel like love at the time

but it was and he did

and he was trying to put some sense into the head
of a wild and reckless kid
and i admit it was tough

back then i didn't recognize his punishment as love
but it was


when that out of state acceptance letter came
i held it to the flame and told beth i wouldn't go
i said i'd get a job in this saw mill town save some dough

settle down and raise a family of our own
well she cried and called me crazy and gave me back my ring
and it didn't sound like love to me


but it was and she did
and she only wanted me to use my wings

and sail off into the wind
and i admit it was tough
for a broken hearted boy to see her goodbye as love

but it was

love has many faces and sometimes it takes years

before we find the beauty past the pain and through the tears
without it, there's no telling just where on earth i'd be
yeah, i thought love wasn't always looking out for me


but it was
but it was