Words I can’t take back

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.