[Verse 1]
Back row kid
Chewed-up pen and bitten lip
She laughs
I freeze
Words queue up then all misclick
Walk home slow
Replay every almost phrase
Name-calling follows
I tuck my heart away
[Pre-Chorus]
Kept my head down
Till the world felt small
If I spoke up
They’d just watch me fall
But your smile hit
Like a light through smoke
First time I believed
I was more than their jokes
[Chorus]
I was too shy to say "come out with me"
Heart in my throat
Hands in my jeans
Never knew love could sound like this
Bassline running with a trembling kiss
All of these years
Learning how to speak
From scared sixteen to this steady beat
Late bloomer love
Took the long way through
But every wrong turn still led to you
[Verse 2]
New town
New job
Still that boy in bigger clothes
Therapy Tuesdays
Unpacking all the names they chose
Learned to stand
In a mirror
Meet my gaze
Practice "hi"
Like a chorus I could raise
[Pre-Chorus]
Got tired of shrinking
Just to keep peace
Started unlearning
Every cruel belief
One small coffee
Turned to midnight calls
I found my rhythm
You answered them all
[Chorus]
I was too shy to say "come out with me"
Heart in my throat
Hands in my jeans
Never knew love could sound like this
Bassline running with a trembling kiss
All of these years
Learning how to speak
From scared sixteen to this steady beat
Late bloomer love
Took the long way through
But every wrong turn still led to you
[Bridge]
Thirty candles
Kitchen light
Your hair undone (oh)
Knees feel shaky
But I’m not that kid who used to run
Pull the ring from my pocket
You laugh
Then you cry
"I was waiting
For you to finally try"
[Chorus]
I was too shy to say "come out with me"
Now I’m here asking
"Will you marry me?"
Never knew life could move like this
First dance spinning into one last first kiss
All of those nights I was scared and small
Led to this room where I give my all
Late bloomer love
But it’s bright and true
Took a lifetime
Just to grow into you