Verse 1
I’ve never been here before
Or maybe once or twice
Thought it was just a phase
Something I’d outgrow with time
Never understood the meaning
Of feeling empty inside
Till I started smiling in public
Then breaking down when I cried
I keep telling everyone I’m fine
But that’s just something I say
Got a war in my head every night
And it don’t go away
Pre-Chorus
They look at me like I’m strong
Like I don’t ever bend
But nobody asks how I’m holding up
They just ask what’s next
I’m the one they lean on
The one that don’t fall apart
But what happens to the strong one
When she’s breaking in the dark?
Chorus
I’m tired of being the fighter
The “you’ll be okay”
Carrying everybody’s weight
While mine just stays
I’m chasing peace like it’s medicine
Trying to fill this space
But I keep losing pieces of me
With a smile on my face
Verse 2
They tell me, “be patient”
“Everything comes in time”
But patience feels like pressure
When I’m barely feeling fine
Me and my mom been distant
Words turning into walls
We don’t yell, we just go quiet
And that silence says it all
She thinks I should be stronger
Maybe she don’t understand
I’m still just her little baby
Trying to be who I am
I wanna make her proud
But I don’t know where to start
Wish she could see I’m trying
Even when I fall apart
Verse 3
My daddy lost his battles
To something he couldn’t fight
Addiction pulled him under
Before he was in my life
I never really knew him
He wasn’t around for me
But when he passed three years ago
It still felt hard to breathe
Mama had to raise me
With strength I didn’t see
Holding everything together
While carrying me
Now I understand her
In ways I didn’t then
She was doing it alone
Again and again
Bridge
Maybe I’m not broken
Maybe I’m just tired
Of pouring from an empty cup
Trying to feel inspired
Healing isn’t pretty
It’s slow and it’s messy
But I’m learning I can’t save the world
If I don’t first protect me
Final Chorus
I’m tired of being the fighter
The “you’ll be okay”
Carrying everybody’s weight
While mine just stays
But maybe strength is softer
Maybe it’s just grace
Learning how to hold my pain
Without losing faith