We tried. God knows we tried.
Two good people — wrong design.
[Verse 1 — the history, the frames, no villain]
Long before the word “divorce” had ever crossed our lips
we’d lie awake and name the hundred ways we didn’t fit
you wanted all the order, but you hated being held in line
and I was too much open road — you couldn’t read my signs
we weren’t cruel, we weren’t broken — we were two different songs
playing in one little room, both a little wrong
[Pre-Chorus 1 — building]
and they’ll tell you someone’s got to be the villain of the tale
but some loves don’t have a monster — they just fail
[Chorus — gospel swell, mournful but lifting]
We couldn’t wear each other’s frames, and that was all it was
I couldn’t be the world you built, you couldn’t carry mine because—
so I prayed a kind of curse on you: just that you’d be happy. And it’s true.
so go and be loved by someone good — I’m finally letting go of you.
[Verse 2 — the brutal moment, the helplessness, the devastation]
I was building myself back up — I thought we’d get one more try
then you chose him right in front of me, and something in me died
“brutal” is the only word — I watched you take his hand
then I watched him wear you down, and I could not make it stand
I’d have torn that door clean off — I swear I almost did
my whole heart, my whole life, going over the edge
[Pre-Chorus 2]
‘cause loving you meant watching, with no right to intervene—
and grief like that don’t leave you. it just changes what it means.
[Chorus]
We couldn’t wear each other’s frames, and that was all it was
I couldn’t be the world you built, you couldn’t carry mine because—
so I prayed a kind of curse on you: just that you’d be happy. And it’s true.
so go and be loved by someone good — I’m finally letting go of you.
[Bridge — the turn: release, friendship, family]
and we leveled up — found a higher frequency to stand,
and I’ll still be your friend, still hold this family in my hands
long after the love goes quiet, long after the ache moves on—
you told me that you’re sorry that you hurt me. I know. I know you are.
so go be loved by someone gentle, someone soft enough to stay—
I was never gonna be that man. and that’s okay. that’s okay.
[Final Chorus — biggest, cathartic]
We couldn’t wear each other’s frames — and there’s no shame in that, no blame
I couldn’t be the world you built, and you were never mine to claim
the curse came true: you’re happy. and I mean it when I say—
go on and be loved by someone good. go get your better days.
[Outro — call and response, the mutual blessing, fading choir]
I’m happy for you.
and you’re happy for me.
two people who couldn’t stay,
learning how to set each other free.
we were never villains —
we just couldn’t wear each other’s frames.
go on now. go on and get your better days.
CoBoBlack
