I Wish You Loved You (The Way I do)

I Wish You Loved You

Musical Style: Heavy, mid-tempo Soul/R&B.

Instrumentation: Deep, warm bass; grounded piano; slow, intentional drum pocket.

(Vocal: Intimate, weary, and conversational)

You handed me your pieces and I tried to make them fit,

But you’re in love with the darkness and I’m just a candle lit.

I spent my nights trying to prove that you’re worth the fight—

But you’re so used to the dim, you’re afraid of the light.

And how can I give you peace, when you've never known it?

(Music: The bass pulses in like a heartbeat)

I’m trying to keep you warm inside a heart you’ve turned to stone,

Building up a kingdom that you’d rather leave alone.

I held the light so you could see, but you just shut your eyes—

'Cause the truth is only heavy... when you're comfortable in lies.

(Music: The beat drops in hard. Full, rich production)

I wish you loved you the way I do,

Maybe then you’d want the life I’m offering you.

You’d stop choosing your pain over everything we could be,

And you’d finally see yourself when you’re looking at me.

Baby, I wish you loved you.

(Music: Maintain the groove; a bit more grit in the delivery)

You’ve turned your trauma to a crown you never take off,

Making me pay the price for every love that you lost.

I’m offering a future, but you’re living in the debt—

Of the ones who did you wrong, and the things you can't forget.

I’m a real woman standing here, ready to be yours,

But you're too busy locking all the open doors.

(Music: Maximum intensity. Strings swell. Vocal is raw and powerful)

You weren’t scared of losing me—

You were scared of choosing you.

And we can’t win the battle

You refused to fight through!

I have enough love to cover us both, it’s true—

But it doesn't mean a thing if it isn't starting with you.

(The music swells. A distorted, soulful electric guitar or a gravelly saxophone takes the melody. It should sound like it’s "weeping"—hitting high, sustained notes that mimic a vocal belt.)

(Vocal: Energy is at 100. Ad-lib "I wish you loved you" over the melody)

I wish you loved you the way I do,

Maybe then you’d want the life I’m offering you.

You’d stop choosing your pain over everything we could be,

And you’d finally see yourself when you’re looking at me.

Baby, I wish you loved you.

(Music strips back instantly to just piano)

There’s a beautiful life right here, but you’re too blind to see it.

There’s a man I know you are, but you’re too scared to be him.

I can’t love you into loving yourself.

I wish you loved you... I really wish you did.