Letter to the Man I Was

Intro

Dm — Bb — F — C

(Acoustic guitar, soft slide in the background)

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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.

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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.

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Pre-Chorus

Bb

Every shortcut you swore you earned,

C

Left a bridge behind you burned.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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Outro

Dm

Ink dries… paper shakes…

Bb — F — C — Dm

Man stands up straighter.