This song is deeply personal—it holds pieces of my own life, my own journey. When I sing, “didn’t know how to love until you taught me so,” it comes from experience. I thought I understood love, but it wasn’t until I became a parent that I truly learned what it meant.

We’re all doing the best we can, every single day. Some of us navigate it better than others, and that’s okay. For me, I was determined to break the cycle—to ensure that the trauma I experienced wouldn’t be passed down to my children. This song is a call to pass down love, empathy, and the belief in oneself—because that’s the kind of legacy worth leaving behind.

I know I could have done better. But I also know that I did the best I could with the knowledge, resources, and emotional strength I had at the time.

Let’s come together and Pass It Down.


Lyrics:
Grew up in a house where the roof barely held
Daddy swung a hammer, Mama prayed we’d be well
We had enough but never much more
Hand-me-down jeans and cracks in the floor

Started young with a wrench in my hand
Worked overtime just to make a stand
Missed your first steps, caught the tail end of two
But I never missed a game when you laced up your shoes

Life’s a little tough, but love gets around
Built on the backs of what came before now
From holding your hand to watching you grow
You’re learning the things only time lets you know
It’s grit and grace, the ties that bind
Unconditional love ain’t hard to find
You hold that baby with tears in your eyes
And I see my heart in yours this time
Pass it down, pass it down

First time I held you, swore I’d never let go
Didn’t know how to love ‘til you taught me so
Braids in your hair and mud on your knees
Now you’re braiding her hair, I can’t believe what I see

Called me “Papa” today, I damn near broke down
That little smile with her mama’s eyes
The years flew by like dust in the wind
But we’re building something that’ll never end

Life’s a little tough, but love gets around
Built on the backs of what came before now
From holding your hand to watching you grow
You’re learning the things only time lets you know
It’s grit and grace, the ties that bind
Unconditional love ain’t hard to find
You hold that baby with tears in your eyes
And I see my heart in yours this time
Pass it down, pass it down

It’s Sunday dinners and prayers at night
Picking wildflowers, porch swings at twilight
What you give away is what you keep
Roots run deep when the heart plants the seed

Life’s a little tough, but love gets around
Built on the backs of what came before now
From holding your hand to watching you grow
You’re learning the things only time lets you know
It’s grit and grace, the ties that bind
Unconditional love ain’t hard to find
You hold that baby with tears in your eyes
And I see my heart in yours this time
Pass it down, pass it down

You’re more than enough, you’ve always been
Through struggle and sweat, through thick and thin
Just look at her smile, the love that you’ve found
It’s a beautiful life — pass it down

Pass It Down

Elbows Up (Country Version)

[Verse 1]
Back then,
Was a different world, 
In different times,
With different rules.
Right now,
Can’t speak your mind,
Can’t cross the line,
Can’t waste the fuel.

[Verse 2]
Back then,
You drove a truck,
Five hundred miles,
Only cost you twenty.
Right now, 
Can’t fill her up,
Can’t afford a trip,
Passed the county.

[Chorus]
I remember we were free, didn’t need much to get by.
Now we’re chasin’ every dollar, in a world runnin’ dry.
We were livin’ for the moment, without fear in our eyes.
Now we’re barely holdin’ on, as our time slippin’ by.

[Verse 3]
Back then, 
You drank the water, 
From a garden hose,
And you’re still breathin’.
Right now,
You read the labels,
You wash your hands,
And you’re still thinkin’.

[Verse 4]
Back then,
you went to church,
Listened to a prayer,
And asked for mercy.
Right now, 
You’re wastin’ time, 
Waitin’ for a sign, 
But you can’t see.

[Chorus]
I remember we were free, didn’t need much to get by
Now we’re chasin’ every dollar, in a world runnin’ dry
We were living for the moment, without fear in our eyes
Now we’re barely holdin’ on, as our time slippin’ by

[Verse 5]
Back then,
Was a different world,
In different times,
With different rules.
Right now,
It’s a whole new world, 
A whole new time,
And too many rules.

[Chorus]
I remember we were free, didn’t need much to get by
Now we’re chasin’ every dollar, in a world runnin’ dry
We were living for the moment, without fear in our eyes
Now we’re barely holdin’ on, as our time slippin’ by

Back Then
Back Then
Back Then

Terence Hart – All Right Reserved

Terrence Hart

Back Then

We all remember our dad’s old truck. The sound of the engine, the feel of the bench seat, and the stories built along the way. This song is a tribute to those good times, the lessons we learned, and the roads that shaped us. “Dad’s Old Truck” is a nostalgic country rock track that takes you back to where it all began.

Dad's Old Truck

Tradin’ Southern Charm for an Honest Breeze

Leaving Georgia

Every time love goes bad she looks good to me

You Wear It Well

Drink Away The Blues     -    Rodeo Sky

i broke my own heart

i fell for her like a leaf from a tree
not a thing i could do about it
she gave me proof of her love— at least
i had no reason to doubt it
but i played around from the very start
only meant to break a few rules
instead, i broke my own heart 

i know i did wrong, but you might as well 
tell a fox to stop chasing rabbits 
i live for the chase, get bored with the catch
it’s not easy to break old, bad habits 
yeah, i played around from the very start
only meant to break a few rules
instead, i broke my own heart 

someday you may find someone 
with everything you require
don’t even think about playing around 
you’re better off playing with fire

i played around from the very start
only meant to break a few rules
instead, i broke my own heart 
like fool, i broke my own heart
serves me right, i broke my own heart

Copyright 2025 Peter Lloyd
music by suno AI

I Broke My Own Heart

Driving along one day and a big truck snaked me out, pulled over and wrote this song.

Rednecks Wanna Have Fun

THUNDER STEALER

You fold your arms like you’re holdin’ in thunder,
Eyes stuck on the floor like it might say somethin’.
I pour a drink just to hear the ice clatter—
That sound’s been louder than us lately.
We’re standin’ still but the silence is movin’,
Like there’s a fight in the room nobody’s choosin’.
I reach for your hand, you fake a smile,
It’s been like this for a while…
And I’d rather break than bend,
Say the words and let the hurt begin—
Than sit here sinkin’ in—
We keep sayin’ nothin’… but it’s screamin’ loud,
Like a goodbye dress in a suitcase now.
We’re shufflin’ hearts like cards on the table,
We’re shufflin’ hearts like cards on the table,
Both too scared to lay ‘em down.
We ain’t sayin’ the words, but they’re hangin’ there—
Like smoke in the kitchen, thick in the air.
If love’s still here, it ain’t stayin’…
In all the things… we ain’t sayin’.
You pull your sleeve like you’re fixin’ not to feel it,
I make a joke we both know ain’t real.
Clock ticks slow like it’s beggin’ for mercy…
Ain’t just the walls that are hurtin’.
And maybe love don’t always shout—
But silence?
That’s how it drowns.
We keep sayin’ nothin’… but it’s screamin’ loud,
Like a goodbye dress in a suitcase now.
We’re shufflin’ hearts like cards on the table,
Both too scared to lay ‘em down.
We ain’t sayin’ the words, but they’re hangin’ there—
Like smoke in the kitchen, thick in the air.
If love’s still here, it ain’t stayin’…
In all the things… we ain’t sayin’.

What We Ain't Sayin'

Songwriter since 1966. Can't believe I still have to write protest songs. Prefer writing love songs and songs of praise for stand-up women and men, parodies, lyrical nonsense, blues and adaptations.

I Broke My Own Heart

Peter Lloyd

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