[Intro]
Used to laugh at the warnings
“Live fast” was my slogan
Every red flag, I ignored it
Every good thing, I’d corrode it
[Verse 1]
I was chasing the smoke and the rumor
Lied so much, I lost my humor
Friends around me, I’d reuse ‘em
Like they pieces in a rumor
Midnight, deep in the screen glow
Heart on mute, but the greed grow
Only cared ‘bout the ego
Never asked, “Where my peace go?”
Mama praying on a prayer rug
I was busy with a fake love
Every “later” was a made-up
‘Til that “later” finally gave up
[Pre-Chorus]
You walked out with a small bag
Didn’t shout, didn’t crawl back
Just one look, hit me all black
Every memory, a callback
Whole life in a hard crash
All the lies in a loud flash
You said, “You only learn
When there’s nothing left to burn”
[Chorus]
Had to come close enough to lose you
To see the truth in the ruins I made
Every wrong choice, every excuse
Turned to dust when you slipped away
But that pain lit a light in the dark now
I’m not the same, I can’t go back down
Had to come close enough to lose you
Just to learn how to choose you now
[Verse 2]
Cold nights in an empty room
Same shirt, heavy sense of doom
All the trophies just felt cartoon
Every laugh had a quiet wound
Saw my face in the bathroom glass
All the years that I sped past
Little boy with a big mask
Scared to say he was outclassed
Called my brother, said “I’m sorry”
He said, “Talk less, show the story”
Hit the ground, started from the glory
Of admitting what was gory
Cut the crew that would cheer crimes
Hit my knees for the first time
Every prayer felt like a lifeline
Every tear like a white sign
[Pre-Chorus]
You ain’t back, but I’m still changed
Rearranged all my inner frame
If you hear this and feel strange
Know your leaving washed my shame
Now my days got a clean sky
Same streets, but a new stride
I was blind till the goodbye
Now I walk with my eyes wide
[Chorus]
Had to come close enough to lose you
To see the truth in the ruins I made
Every wrong choice, every excuse
Turned to dust when you slipped away
But that pain lit a light in the dark now
I’m not the same, I can’t go back down
Had to come close enough to lose you
Just to learn how to choose you now
[Bridge]
(Yeah) I turned the poison to a lesson
Turned the “why me?” to a blessing
All this pressure, all this stressing
Built a heart that’s done regressing
If I get one more chance, I’ll guard it
Treat your trust like a sacred market
Every word, I’ma match with heart, yeah
Every day, I’ma move more honest (hey!)
[Chorus]
Had to come close enough to lose you
To see the truth in the ruins I made
Every wrong choice, every excuse
Turned to dust when you slipped away
But that pain lit a light in the dark now
I’m not the same, I can’t go back down
Had to come close enough to lose you
Just to learn how to choose you now
[Outro]
I was late, but I woke up
Broke down, then I rose up
If you hear this, just know one
Broken man finally chose love