[Verse 1] Barefoot on the pavement, summer burning hot Racing to the corner where the ice cream truck would stop Grass stains on my knees from battles I had won We'd play until the streetlights told us day was done Mom's voice through the window calling us back home A world that fit inside our neighborhood alone [Pre-Chorus] We built castles out of cardboard, kingdoms in the yard Didn't need a map to know we'd never wander far [Chorus] These are the golden days, golden days Living in a moment that would never fade away We were wild and we were free, chasing fireflies at eight Oh, I'd give anything to feel that way Back in the golden days, golden days When the world was big and beautiful and safe Time moved slow like honey, every hour felt like forever Now I hold them close, my golden days [Verse 2] Saturday morning cartoons, cereal bowl in hand Building forts from blankets in a far-off wonderland Riding bikes to nowhere, wind tangled in my hair The smell of fresh-cut lawns and summer in the air Hide and seek at twilight, counting down from ten If I close my eyes I'm seven years old again [Pre-Chorus] We made promises in tree houses, carved our names in wood Believed that we'd stay young forever if we could [Chorus] These are the golden days, golden days Living in a moment that would never fade away We were wild and we were free, chasing fireflies at eight Oh, I'd give anything to feel that way Back in the golden days, golden days When the world was big and beautiful and safe Time moved slow like honey, every hour felt like forever Now I hold them close, my golden days [Bridge] I drive past that old house, the swing set's rusted through The kids playing in that yard don't have a clue That their laughter's gonna echo when the years have slipped away They're living in what someday they'll call the golden days [Chorus] These are the golden days, golden days Living in a moment that would never fade away We were wild and we were free, chasing fireflies at eight Oh, I'd give anything to feel that way Back in the golden days, golden days When the world was big and beautiful and safe Time moved slow like honey, every hour felt like forever Now I hold them close, my golden days [Outro] Still barefoot on the pavement In my mind I'm seven, playing In my golden days My golden days