Zane Penny’s “Tough Bones” Captures Teenage Angst

Through dusty sunbeams and scuffed-up sneakers, Zane Penny’s “Tough Bones” peels back teenage memories like old stickers on a skateboard.

The Alaskan indie-folk artist crafts raw authenticity with just an acoustic guitar and heartfelt vocals.

The song’s DNA is built from seemingly ordinary moments, a cracked tennis court, the muscle memory of failed heel flips, the way rejection used to feel like the end of the universe.

Penny’s guitar work dances between gentle plucks and strums that mirror the flow of adolescent emotions, while his voice carries the weight of someone looking back at their teenage self with equal parts nostalgia and newfound wisdom.

“Hold it out” becomes the track’s beating heart repeated not just as lyrics, but as permission to embrace the beautiful mess of growing up.

Zane Penny’s Tough Bones is the kind of song that makes you pause mid-coffee sip, suddenly remembering the exact smell of summer nights when everything felt both terrifying and possible.

Zane Penny Tough Bones Lyrics

Overgrown tennis court
Tread on for miles
Drop the kids off let em stay for awhile
I can still smell the rubber sneakers
Worn down from a heel flip
We were just some kids
Coming down from a bad trip

My head burns real hot
So my heart treads lightly
No It’s not all I was
No that’s not all I will ever be

16 years old
I don’t know what I’m doing
I don’t know what I’m saying
Everything’s exciting
Everyone’s just like me
A rejection was the worst thing I felt
There’s no bigger picture
There’s no learning myself
I was a no second chances type
No asking for help”Open up your hands kid and just hold it out”
Someone will be there to catch it
I promise

My head burns real hot
So my heart treads lightly
Not that’s not all I was
No that’s not all I will ever be
Inked skin
Tough bones
Newfound shame
If I now had you close
Would it all go the same?
Would it all go the same?

Hold it out
Come on man
Just hold it out
Hold it out
Come on man
Just hold it out