Cardboard Crowns

We raced on bikes down dead-end streets
Tied capes from towels, scraped up knees
Chalk-drawn maps and lightning bugs
Believed in magic, 'cause why not us

We had a throne made out of milk crates
A flag we made from a pillowcase
We ruled the street like we owned the place
We were kings, we were kings
Cardboard crowns and paper swords
Laughed too loud, never locked our doors
I still hear echoes through the noise
We were kings, we were kings

We lit our summers on fire for fun
Counted stars when the day was done
You said: Promise me we'll never change
But the years flew past like a paper plane
We left the house and we left the dreams
But that street still holds a part of me
And every crack in the sidewalk sings
Of cardboard crowns and younger kings

We had a throne made out of milk crates
A flag we made from a pillowcase
We ruled the street like we owned the place
We were kings, we were kings
Cardboard crowns and paper swords
Laughed too loud, never locked our doors
I still hear echoes through the noise
We were kings, we were kings

We swore we'd be legends, ten feet tall
Now I just drink when the nights get small
The world spun fast, we let it go
Now I toast to thrones we used to know

We had a throne made out of milk crates
A flag we made from a pillowcase
We ruled the street like we owned the place
We were kings, we were kings
Cardboard crowns and paper swords
Laughed too loud, never locked our doors
Even now, I hear your voice
We were kings, we were kings
We were kings, we were kings