Verse 1
I learned how to talk before I learned to listen
Learned how to win, yeah, I learned how to push
I called it straight talk, called it being a man
But I was crossing lines I didn’t understand
I said things quick, never thought twice
Let my pride do the talking, paid the price
Somewhere between the truth and the gun
I learned the weight of a reckless tongue
Chorus
Words don’t leave bruises you can see
But they hang around like memory
I’ve shut some doors I can’t get back
With words I can’t take back
They don’t fade when the yelling’s done
They sit real heavy on everyone
I’ve lived with the damage I unpack
From words I can’t take back
Verse 2
I’ve watched my kids get quiet and small
When my voice got loud in the hallway
Told myself I was tired, told myself it was fine
But I saw the hurt in their eyes
At work I talked hard, thought that was strength
Left a few good men feeling second-guessed
Respect don’t die all at once
It just slowly fades when the talk gets rough
Chorus
Words don’t leave bruises you can see
But they hang around like memory
I’ve shut some doors I can’t get back
With words I can’t take back
They don’t fade when the yelling’s done
They sit real heavy on everyone
I’ve lived with the damage I unpack
From words I can’t take back
Bridge
The Bible says life and death come out the same mouth
I used to read that, didn’t think much about it
But silence started sounding more like grace
When I finally learned when not to say a thing
Verse 3
I’m learning to slow down, learning to pray
Learning to walk off what I used to say
Trying to bless my house, not stir the storm
Trying to talk less and love more
I still miss it sometimes, I’m not clean yet
Still bite my tongue with some regret
But mercy’s been meeting me where I’m at
Teaching me better than words I can’t take back
Final Chorus
Words don’t leave bruises you can see
But they carry weight eternally
I’ve broken things I can’t unpack
With words I can’t take back
If you’re like me and you’re learning slow
Trying to do better than you used to know
Choose your words, son, that’s a fact
Some things you can’t take back
Outro
Yeah, I’ve said enough to know what’s true
Life or death’s riding on what you choose
I’m still learning how to speak like that
With words I won’t take back.
TheWordwithTobie
