[Vocal]
[Starts controlled and reflective, building into a huge, defiant chorus with stacked harmonies.]
[Instrumentation]
[Driving drums, distorted guitars, piano, gang vocals in the final chorus.]
[Verse]
I never walked in thinking
I stood above your name.
I loved you through your broken,
Never played a better game.
I saw the good beneath the damage,
Held on when hope was thin.
I kept believing in tomorrow…
Even when you stopped believing in it.
[Pre-Chorus]
I thought strength
Was standing beside you.
I never knew…
It was carrying us both.
[Chorus]
I was the strong one.
I just didn’t know.
Holding up a house
You kept letting go.
I gave forgiveness
When you gave excuses.
Built a future
While you burned through it.
I never thought
I was better than you…
But looking back…
I carried more than two.
[Verse]
I loved your children.
I believed your dreams.
I paid the bills when life got heavy,
Held together busted seams.
I gave my patience.
I gave my time.
Defended you when others wouldn’t.
Called your heart worth fighting for
Even after you stopped fighting for mine.
[Pre-Chorus]
You called me emotional.
But somehow…
I was the one
Still standing.
[Bridge]
Strength wasn’t
Winning arguments.
Strength was showing up.
Strength was loyalty
When it wasn’t convenient.
Strength was choosing love
Again…
And again…
And again.
Until I realized…
Strength also knows
When to walk away.
[Final Chorus]
I was the strong one.
Now I finally see.
Not because I’m perfect…
Because I refused to leave
The pieces on the floor
When life got hard.
I gave compassion.
I gave grace.
I kept choosing us
When you chose escape.
I never believed
I was better than you.
I just finally realized…
I deserved someone
Who was as strong
As me.
[Outro]
Turns out…
The strongest thing I ever did…
Was survive
Someone
Who couldn’t
Carry
What I carried.
