I gave you reasons

Verse 1

I said I was tired, said I’d be late

Said “not tonight” way too many days

Left you alone with the noise and the mess

While I chased pride I couldn’t cash yet

Kids learned early how to be quiet

When Daddy came home already violent

Not with fists, just words and ice

Turns out silence cuts like a knife

Chorus

Yeah, I gave you reasons to walk away

I fed the fire, I lit the flame

But you took the kids like I didn’t bleed

Like they weren’t half of me

I hate myself for the man I was

And I hate you for giving up

I’m drowning in blame, pissed off and ashamed

Yeah, I gave you reasons—but damn it, you took everything

Verse 2

There’s a dent in the wall from a slammed-down door

That I swore I’d fix but never got around for

There’s a drawing on the fridge still taped with hope

Stick-figure me and the kids I broke

I miss the noise, I miss the fights

Miss breaking up their Saturday nights

Now the house don’t argue back

Just stares at me like it knows the facts

Chorus

Yeah, I gave you reasons to walk away

I fed the fire, I lit the flame

But you took the kids like I didn’t bleed

Like they weren’t half of me

I hate myself for the man I was

And I hate you for giving up

I’m drowning in blame, pissed off and ashamed

Yeah, I gave you reasons—but damn it, you took everything

Bridge

I know I wasn’t easy to love back then

I was short on patience, long on sin

But I’d crawl through hell, I’d eat my pride

Just to tuck them in one more night

You say they’re better off without my mess

But I swear I’m trying to be my best

Funny how change shows up too late

When the price you pay is your kids’ last name

Breakdown

I hear their voices when it’s quiet

I hear mine yelling—wish I’d denied it

If regret was a man, he’d look like me

Sitting in a house full of memories

Final Chorus

Yeah, I gave you reasons, I won’t deny

I was wrong, I was blind, I was outta line

But you took the kids like I couldn’t grow

Like I didn’t deserve to know

I’m mad at me, I’m mad at you

Mad at the truth I can’t undo

I’ll carry this weight till the day I’m gone

I lost my family—and I know what I did wrong

Outro

If they ask why I ain’t around

Tell ’em Daddy finally slowed it down

Tell ’em I’m sorry, tell ’em I tried

Tell ’em I loved ’em my whole damn life