Right Beside Me

[Intro – spoken, close to mic]
I come out here…
talk to you like you’re still listenin’…

[pause]

Sometimes I think you answer back…
but I know… that’s just me.

[Verse 1 – soft, steady]
I didn’t see you when I had you
Had you standin’ in the light

[hold]

You were right there in front of me
And I just looked the other way

[Verse 2 – build slightly]
We were young and runnin’ fast
Chasin’ somethin’ out ahead

[pull back]

Never stopped to look around
At what we had instead

[Pre-Chorus – quieter, leaning in]
I was lookin’ down the road…
while you were standin’ right beside me…

[let it sit]

[Chorus – fuller, but not loud]
I should’ve known… I should’ve stayed…
Should’ve loved you every day…

[pause]

Instead of lettin’ time just pull us both apart…
I was blind to what was right beside my heart…
[drop volume]
And if I listen close enough…
I can hear you in the night…
Sayin’ I was never lookin’…
where you stood… right in my sight…

[Verse 3 – slightly rougher, more emotion]
I found that old photograph…
you were smilin’ like you knew…

[pause]

And in my head I hear you sayin’…
“You were never seein’ me… just seein’ through…”

[Bridge – spoken, almost whispered]
“I stood beside you every time…
you just never saw me there…”

[long pause]

That’s what I hear you sayin’…
whether it’s true or not…

[Chorus – bigger, more open]
I should’ve known… I should’ve stayed…
Should’ve loved you every day…
[hold]
Instead of chasin’ every road that led me blind…
I was blind to what was right beside me…
[soft, almost talking]
And maybe you would say to me…
“You were always in my view…”
But I was lookin’ past forever…
while I was losin’ you…

[Outro – spoken, very quiet]
I don’t know if that’s really you…
or just me tryin’ to fix the past…

[pause]

But I’ll keep comin’ out here…
‘til I can say your name…
without breakin’…

Outlaw country graveside confession, acoustic guitar, slow harmonica, raw vocal, wind, quiet, deep regret