Why Can’t I Forget

[Verse 1]
Everyone says
“time moves on”
They pack up your shirts
Give away your old songs
They laugh at the table
Like nothing is wrong
But your coffee cup’s
Still where it belongs
[Pre-Chorus]
They talk like you’re a story
Told once
Then put aside
I still leave you a space
On my left
On my right
[Chorus]
When they’re gone
They aren’t really gone
Are they
Or are they
Living in my head on replay
They forget
But I’m still holding my breath
I remember everything
Why can’t I forget
[Verse 2]
I know all your numbers
Though they never ring
I scroll through our messages
Don’t delete a thing
They’ve turned the last page
Closed the book
It seems
I’m stuck between sentences
Lost in the in-between
[Pre-Chorus]
How do they turn the volume down
On every little sign
I still hear you in the quiet
Answering my mind
[Chorus]
When they’re gone
They aren’t really gone
Are they
Or are they
Living in my head on replay
They forget
But I’m still holding my breath
I remember everything
Why can’t I forget
[Bridge]
If letting go means losing you
I don’t know if I want to
If moving on means fading out
Then I’ll stay here
I’ll stay loud (yeah)
[Chorus]
When they’re gone
They aren’t really gone
Are they
Or are they
The shadow in my doorway
They forget
I’m still tracing every step
I remember everything
I remember everything
I remember everything
Why can’t I forget

Intimate indie ballad with fragile male vocals over soft piano and brushed drums. Verses stay hushed and close-mic’d; chorus blooms with warm pads and a subtle bass swell. Sparse guitar harmonics add sparkle in the bridge, then everything drops to almost acapella for the final hook.