Intro
Dm — Bb — F — C
(Acoustic guitar, soft slide in the background)
⸻
Verse 1
Dm
Dear boy with fire in his eyes,
Bb
Thought he knew the world by twenty-five.
F
Chased loud dreams, ran from slow truth,
C
Called it freedom, called it youth.
⸻
Verse 2
Dm
You thought love would always wait,
Bb
That sorry would come before too late.
F
You traded time for pride and praise,
C
Didn’t feel the cost till years away.
⸻
Pre-Chorus
Bb
Every shortcut you swore you earned,
C
Left a bridge behind you burned.
⸻
Chorus
Dm
This is a letter to the man I was,
Bb
I hope you’re listening somewhere because
F
You didn’t know what you were losing then,
C
All the little things that mattered most.
Dm
I won’t curse you, I won’t pretend,
Bb
You were just scared, not evil, friend.
F
But I’m living with the truth you left—
C Dm
And I’m doing better now.
⸻
Verse 3
Dm
You laughed when they said slow down,
Bb
Said roots were chains, not solid ground.
F
Didn’t see the cracks beneath your feet,
C
Till everything fell in deep.
⸻
Bridge (almost spoken)
Bb
If I could meet you face to face,
F
I wouldn’t yell, I’d just say this:
C
“Hold your kids, go home tonight,
Bb C
Don’t trade love for passing lights.”
(Band swells gently)
⸻
Final Chorus
Dm
This is a letter to the man I was,
Bb
I forgive you now, because I must.
F
Regret don’t heal, but truth can start,
C
When pride finally leaves the heart.
Dm
I can’t erase what’s said and done,
Bb
But I can choose the man I become.
F
So I’m folding up this letter slow,
C Dm
And leaving you behind.
⸻
Outro
Dm
Ink dries… paper shakes…
Bb — F — C — Dm
Man stands up straighter.
