before we knew they were good

five young guns

four old fords between us

never more than a couple of 'em run at a time

bold and bored

standin' and gasolinin'

makin' sparks with anything we could find

we love that town but we were seventeeners

ridin' around giving it the finger

those days we made it last all night

those girls we thought were just all right

those kids that town misunderstood

they were great before we knew they were good

sweatin' in the sun 'cuz havin' fun takes money

paid for our crazy cuttin' grass

waitin' on the front porch

for little miss milk and honey

smellin' like marlboros and lawnmower gas

we parked that galaxy out there where the milo grew

two beginners tryin' to show each other what they knew

caged birds singing

waitin' on their wings and learnin' to fly

one day they're on the ground and then you turn around

they're all in the sky

before we knew they were good

they were great