Eight years to Ashlee

Yo, eight years of walkin' through the shadows all alone,

Built a fortress 'round my heart, made a desert my home.

Then the doors swung open at that Denny's that night,

I saw you standin' there, Ashlee, lookin' like the light.

I told the coworkers right then, 'Man, she’s gonna be mine,'

I felt the shift in the stars, saw the perfect design.

Didn't matter who I had to fight or what I had to prove,

I saw my future in your eyes, I was ready to move.

Ashlee, you're the one who found me when I was lost at sea,

Brought the love back to life, unlocked the heart of me.

No more lonely nights, no more drownin' in the dark,

You're the peace in the chaos, you're the flicker in the spark.

Through the waves and the wind, you keep my head above the tide,

With you right beside me, girl, I got nothin' to hide.

We were both survivin' storms before we finally met,

Heavy hearts and rough nights, a life full of regret.

But you came with no judgment, just a soul so pure,

A kind of unconditional love that’s the only real cure.

Life’s a better ride now, every smile feels brand new,

We’re buildin' up a kingdom, and I’m doin' it with you.

Everything we ever wanted, yeah, it’s all within reach,

Practicin' the lessons that this lonely road would teach.

Now I know it won’t be easy, we’ll have days that are tough,

Stupid fights and make-up nights when the world gets rough.

But as long as you got faith in me and I got faith in you,

There isn't a single thing that the two of us can't do.

I promise you I’m a man who’s gonna stand by his word,

The loudest love you ever felt, the clearest voice you heard