(Soft piano or guitar intro — mellow, reflective tone)Intro / Verse 0 — The Grief That Never Was (Lead vocal, very gentle — almost spoken with faint reverb) I mourn what I never held, The love that should’ve reached for me and never did. Empty arms where warmth should’ve been, A cradle of silence where my heart learned to bend. (BGs hum faintly — “Mmm, oh Lord…”) I grew up chasing shadows of care, Searching for a touch that was never there.Verse 1 (Lead soulful, slightly stronger tone) Since before my first breath, love never came my way, Even when my tears fell hard, they just turned away. A heart so cold, aiming pain my way, All because of where I came from, what I didn’t say. (Ad-lib softly: “Didn’t say, didn’t say…”)Pre-Chorus (Lead with slight lift) I cried to the Lord, so often in vain, Till the sound of my own song eased my pain. (BGs add low harmony: “Ease my pain… ease my pain…”)Chorus (Fuller sound — bring in harmonies) I have to go, I have to live, I have to love and protect me. (BGs echo softly: “Protect me, yeah…”) I’m tired of tears that lead nowhere, Only used to do your dirty deeds. (Ad-lib: “I’m done, I’m done, I’m done!”) I lost you long before I found my peace, But God never lied — He showed me the truth, His love stays true every day. (BGs lift: “God never lied… He showed me… every day…”) So I have to go, I have to live, love, and protect me. (Ad-lib: “Yeah… protect me, Lord…”)Verse 2 (Lead contemplative — back down in energy) I sent my prayers like bottles to the sea, Hoped love unknown would somehow drift to me. I dreamed of that first kiss, a spark so true, But I can’t keep bleeding for the ghost of you. (Ad-lib softly: “No more bleeding… no more pain…”)Bridge (Lead emotional — bring gospel tone here) From afar I hold love, but I’m through, No fondness remains, not even for you. (BGs beneath: “No fondness, no more…”) My soul’s reborn, no chain, no plea, Just faith, and fire, and the will to be free. (Ad-lib: “Set me free… free indeed!”)Final Chorus (Lead opens strong, with full backing vocals and ad-libs) I have to go, I have to live, I have to love and protect me. (BGs: “Protect me…”) You broke my trust, but not my belief, God never lied — He showed me the truth, His love stays true every day. (BGs soar: “He showed me… the truth…”) So I have to go, I have to live, love, and protect me. (Final ad-libs: “I’m gonna live… I’m gonna love… I’m gonna protect me!”)(End on soft hums and held note — fading with “God never lied…” echoing last)

God Never Lied