18 Years by John Cowan & Scott Poston It's a bittersweet legacy you left me to find Every time that I fall I feel you push from behind 18 years you've been gone, 18 years you're still around How can you move so much from a hole in the ground? In that small frame house on the Bible belt I never knew who you were, I never knew howyou felt Now I'm painting this picture and I don't know the truth Did you do what you wanted or what you had to do? And though your blood runs through my veins I won't bear your cross 'cause I share your name It's not the way that we die it's the way that we live And I can't tell anymore who I need to forgive 18 years, 18 years Yeah you'd sit at that table with your Seagrams stare Was it love or obligation that kept you there? I tried all your prescriptions for easin' my pain Whiskey, drugs, women, they all feel the same And though your blood runs through my veins I won't bear your cross 'cause I share your name It's not the way that we die it's the way that we live And I can't tell anymore who I need to forgive 18 years, 18 years I still need you old man but I don't need you to blame As I stare at myself in your picture frame It's good thing you ain't here to ball me out I've learned to count on myself in a moment of doubt And though your blood runs through my veins I won't bear your cross 'cause I share your name It's not the way that we die it's the way that we live And I can't tell anymore who I need to forgive 18 years, 18 years