Back When The Mall Was The World

Mama dropped us off by the Searside door Said be right here tonight, don't ask for more We had ten bucks each and a whole night long Just kids and a kingdom made of neon and songs Skater boys camped out near the shoe store wall Cheerleader crew doing slow mo mo cross Guy kids posted up by the record shop Country boys flexing at the western top would lap that place Like a NASCAR track pretending we ain't looping the same old lap When we're shopping dreams we couldn't afford Feeling rich just to push on a glass front door Didn't need no plan Didn't need much cash Just a food court table and a car The world, food court fries, pretty girls Movie stuff stuffed in our jeans Arcade tokens and teenage schemes First job name tags, can I help you ma'am? Mopping up floors just to pay for the glam Yeah, I felt big in that little towel swirl Back when the mall Back when the mall was a world We hit that theater for the late night show Sneak our friends in through the side road door Hold hands nervously share one dream Hard to be louder than the surround sound I think Break time rushing a greasy hat Flipping burgers where my buddies sat They clowned my apron I copped the fries Trade-free refills for their alibis Met my first crush by the pretzel stand She worked registering on her hand Dropped my tray when she said my name Right then the mall never felt the same We were broke man, we were doing just fine Living big under the fluorescent lights Back when the mall was the world Food court fries, pretty girls Orange soda rings on plastic seats Sunday shoes squeaking down those wings Hey, check stand, but our hearts felt strong Spend it all before the month got long Yeah, life felt big in that little towel swirl Back when the mall Back when the mall was the world Now it's click and shift and same day dawn And half those stores ain't there no more But close my eyes and I'm right back then Smelling popcorn, hearing that crowd again Back when the mall was the world Best place ever for a small town girl Arcade lights and a food court man Future sitting in the palm of our hands We didn't know where life would land But we knew every inch of that second floor span Yeah, if I could take one more slow walk with that girl I'd meet her right there Back when the mall was the world Ten bucks, bad shoes, big dreams Small town, all of it living