Growing Up Too Fast

An old friend of mine told me some time ago

That I was just a kid who grew up too fast

Didn’t appreciate my childhood

Wouldn’t take the time to enjoy it and make it last



Told me there was so much I was missing

Said I was sixteen goin’ on thirty-eight

Thought I should be spending my time playing some ball

Said “Boy, bein’ an adult ain’t so great”



When I was younger I was always a good kid

But as time went on, the quality of “good” decided to stray

And at the tender age of thirteen

I gave my innocence away



And so when I was sixteen and more naïve than ever

I decided it was time to grab a bottle

Got behind the wheel of my 67’ Chevy

Without any hesitation, slammed the throttle



I guess the turn was a little to close

The road still wet from the flood

I finally awoke to a shocking sight

As I found myself lying in a puddle of blood



And I remember when my parents were called in that night

Doc told mom to take a seat

Never witnessed such a depressing time

The room played such a somber beat



I’ll never forget the feeling inside

When the doctor told me I’d never again walk

Only then while I lay flat on my back and stare at the wall

Did the hands start to turn a little more slowly on the clock



Maybe if for a second I could have thought

Of someone other that myself and my greed

Then on this very day

For my life, I might not have to plead



And I wonder looking back

If I had not been in such a rush

Would I have possibly been spared

From death’s oh so close brush



I mean looking back now

Would it have really been all the hard

To just slow down a little bit

And maybe just maybe now I wouldn’t be so scarred



Who can forget when I finally decided I’d had enough

Bought a gun and pointed it to my head

It was the twenty-first of February, the year was 2009.

The day I filled my brain with lead



I mean is it foolish to think

That one could actually prevent such an unstoppable force

Or is it even worse to hold the belief

That the occurrences that day were actually fate’s course



Still one has to wonder if this all could have been avoided

If I would have just taken the time

To slow down and smell the roses

And while I had the chance, enjoyed my prime



So please hold the following dearly

In life, it is a grave truth

That the greatest time spent on earth

Is that of one’s youth



Always remember don’t grow up too fast

Seize the day and live the times

And maybe down the road if lucky

Never again will be written such solemn rhymes

View oldsoul2oo4's Full Portfolio