You Didn’t Have To, But You Did

Verse 1
You weren’t there at the start of my story
Didn’t share my name or my blood
But you showed up anyway
And you stayed when it got tough

You learned all my favorite songs
Drove me places late at night
Said, “Call me if you need anything”
And you always made it right

Pre-Chorus
They say “step,” like it’s something small
But you were never that at all

Chorus
You didn’t have to love me like your own
Didn’t have to build a place called home
But you did, yeah you did
Now I don’t know what to do with this

You didn’t have to stay, but you stayed
Through every mess that I made
And I swear half of who I am
Is because you held my hand

Verse 2
I still hear you in the little things
Like the jokes no one else gets right
Or the way you’d say my name
When I couldn’t sleep at night

There’s an empty chair now at the table
And I hate how quiet it feels
Like the world just kept on turning
While mine stood completely still

Pre-Chorus
They say “he wasn’t really yours”
But they don’t know what we were

Chorus
You didn’t have to love me like your own
Didn’t have to build a place called home
But you did, yeah you did
Now I don’t know what to do with this

You didn’t have to stay, but you stayed
Through every mess that I made
And I swear half of who I am
Is because you held my hand

Bridge
I hope you knew I meant it
Every time I called you “dad” and “I love you”
Even if I didn’t say it enough
God, I wish I had

I’d give anything just to hear
“You’re okay, I’m right here”
One more time before you go
Just so you’d know

Final Chorus (softer, breaking)
You didn’t have to love me like your own
But somehow you made my heart your home
And you did… yeah you did
That’s the part I’ll never forget

You didn’t have to stay, but you stayed
And you loved me anyway
So wherever you are now
I hope I’m making you proud

Outro
You weren’t there at the start of my life…
But you were there for all the parts that mattered

pop, sad, electro, male