[Verse 1]
When we were young and always looking up
And passing out up in the parking lot
Those were the nights, but now they've come and gone
My dear, my dear
It's 2 AM, before the afterglow
And all those nights just seem so long ago
Banging my hands upon the stereo
Nowhere, nowhere

[Pre-Chorus]
My heart plays the songs of my lost years
My scars are a church for my old fears
My body's a wreck, but I don't care
I swear

[Chorus]
So say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, when you're young in America
I don't wanna let you down
Luck will come around
We can get a ticket out somehow
That's all I am, that's all I ever was
So say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, goddamn, goddamn
[Verse 2]
When we were young and full of bad decisions
And MTV was on your television
And all we had was our planned ambition
Ahead, ahead
You're waiting tables up at Emerald heights
I play the Steamboat every Friday night
Two kids from nothing, guess we did alright
My dear, my dear

[Pre-Chorus]
My heart plays the songs of my lost years
My scars are a church for my old fears
My body's a wreck, but I don't care
I swear

[Chorus]
So say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, when you're young in America
I don't wanna let you down
Luck will come around
We can get a ticket out somehow
That's all I am, that's all I ever was
So say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, goddamn, goddamn
[Bridge]
When I still hear you singing
On the old tape deck tonight
And I don't think I'll be sleeping
'Cause I just can't close my eyes
But I'll close my eyes

[Chorus]
Say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, when you're young in America
I don't wanna let you down
Luck will come around
We can get a ticket out somehow
That's all I am, that's all I ever was
So say a prayer, gotta lift me up
Goddamn, goddamn, goddamn