Teenage Parents
The Wonder Years Lyrics

You climb six lonely sad stairs to your apartment
After a tiring graveyard shift, you climb six stairs to your apartment, reflecting on the hardships of your life.

After another graveyard shift in the cold dull light of morning.
Your job leaves you feeling drained and uninspired in the early hours of the morning.

You walked in just in time to catch her as she's leaving
You arrive home in time to see your partner walk out, highlighting the difficulties of maintaining a relationship with conflicting schedules.

But the schedules and the conflicts kept the roof over our heads.
Despite the difficulties, you and your partner managed to provide for yourselves and maintain a stable living situation.

You said you were strong and naive and
Your partner admits to being inexperienced yet willing to face the challenge of parenthood head-on.

If you were scared, well, I would understand.
Your partner recognizes the fear and uncertainty of the situation, but is willing to work through it together with you.

I don't think I would have had the guts to handle it.
You express admiration for your partner's bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.

We bought our first house at the advent of the 90s
In the early 90s, you and your partner were able to achieve the American dream of owning your own home.

A Cape Cod on a busy street that we swore we'd fix eventually.
Although your new home needed some work, you saw its potential and were determined to make it better.

Winter of '93, we got by with kerosene
During a particularly tough winter, you had to make do with a less than ideal heating solution.

A heater in the living room, we huddled around shivering and me
You and your family had to bundle up in the living room to stay warm, even though it was uncomfortable.

Trying to get to sleep.
Despite the cold and discomfort, you tried to get some rest, knowing you had to face another day tomorrow.

My clothes will smell of smoke for weeks.
The smell of kerosene lingers on your clothing, a reminder of the struggles you faced during that difficult winter.

Just trying to get to sleep.
Even though it wasn't easy, you tried your best to get some much needed rest.

My mother wore a sundress on the day that she got married.
Your mother got married in a simple and modest fashion, a reflection of the values and circumstances of her time.

They held the wedding in a backyard near the city.
The wedding was held in a convenient location, perhaps due to the cost or logistics of a larger celebration.

I was just one then, I would never remember it
You were too young to remember the wedding, but its impact and importance still resonate with you.

But I heard the voices and implications
You heard the opinions and expectations of others, which shaped your beliefs and aspirations, sometimes in ways that were limiting or negative.

Telling me who I could never be.
The voices you heard served as a hindrance to your development and self-discovery, breeding doubt and insecurities.

And you always said it would get better.
Throughout the trials and tribulations, your partner remained optimistic and hopeful, encouraging you to keep pushing forward.

"When you're young and you're poor, they hang on your failures."
You acknowledge the harsh reality that society is often unforgiving to those who are young and struggling to make ends meet, making it harder to overcome setbacks and obstacles.

And you always said it would get better.
Despite the challenges, you and your partner remained committed to each other and to the belief that things would eventually improve.

I'm sick of seeing ghosts. I won't be here forever.
You express a weariness and frustration with the ghosts of your past, but also a determination to move forward and build a brighter future for yourself and your loved ones.