Once Upon a Time

[Verse 1]
Once upon a time I gave you all of me
Every dream I had, every piece I could be
Didn’t keep a corner safe, didn’t hide a single part
I laid my whole world down and called it your heart
But I should’ve known how that fairy tale would end
Some stories fall apart before they even begin

[Pre-Chorus]
You stood beside me in that white church light
But something in your eyes never felt quite right

[Chorus]
You wouldn’t even take my name when we got married
Said you didn’t believe in chains people carried
I laughed it off, said love was enough
But looking back now I can see through the bluff
You took a piece of me I’ll never get back
Left a crack running deep down my heart like that
Now I’m holding something no one can see
Part of my love that used to run free
Verse 2
What did you want?
No wait… it doesn’t even matter now
You walked away like it was easy somehow
Like the life we built was just dust in the air
Like the vows we made weren’t really there

[Pre-Chorus]
And I told myself I’d never fall that far again
Never let somebody all the way in
Chorus
You took a piece of me I’ll never get back
Left a crack running deep down my heart like that
Now I’m holding something no one can see
Part of my love that used to run free
I learned how to guard what you broke in me
Even when someone’s everything you couldn’t be

[Bridge]
Now there’s a woman with truth in her eyes
No hidden doors, no quiet goodbyes
She’s kind where you were cold and proud
She lifts me up instead of tearing me down
And I know I can trust her… I know she’s the one
But scars don’t vanish just because love comes

[Final Chorus]
Yeah you took a piece of me I’ll never get back
Left a crack running deep down my heart like that
Now I’m holding part of me behind a wall
Even when someone deserves it all
It’s ironic how love can be
I found someone you never were to me
But I can’t give her what you threw away
Like it was nothing… back in that once upon a time day

[Outro]
Once upon a time I gave you all of me
Now there’s a part of my heart
No one will ever see.

Emotional pop country ballad, male vocal, acoustic guitar, piano, modern Nashville production, heartfelt, reflective