That Was Me

Verse 1
I used to wake up tired before the day began
Coffee in my hand, still shakin’ where I stand
Sayin’ “I’m good” when I’m barely holdin’ on
Smilin’ through the noise like nothin’ ever’s wrong

Phone blowin’ up, but I don’t wanna reply
Too much in my chest, I don’t even know why
Everybody sayin’ “you’re so strong, you’re so free”
But they don’t see the war that was livin’ in me

Pre-Chorus
I thought I had to push through
Thought that’s just what you do
Didn’t know my body…
Was just tryin’ to tell the truth

Chorus
That was me… runnin’ on empty
Livin’ like I had no way out
That was me… callin’ it “normal”
But my soul was screamin’ out loud

That was me… always in overdrive
Never knew how to just be still
Now I feel… somethin’ shift inside
Like my body’s learnin’ to heal

⸻

Verse 2
I used to feel guilty just for slowin’ down
Like if I stopped movin’, I might start to drown
Holdin’ it together was the role I played
Didn’t even notice how much I betrayed… myself

Kept sayin’ “later, I’ll rest when I win”
But the finish line just kept movin’ again
Now I see it wasn’t weakness in me
It was survival dressed up as identity

Pre-Chorus
I don’t gotta earn rest
I don’t gotta prove pain
I can let my guard down
I can feel again

Chorus
That was me… runnin’ on empty
Livin’ like I had no way out
That was me… callin’ it “normal”
But my soul was screamin’ out loud

That was me… always in overdrive
Never knew how to just be still
Now I feel… somethin’ shift inside
Like my body’s learnin’ to heal

⸻

Bridge (soft, almost whispered)
If you feel this in your chest right now…
If you’re tired but don’t know how to stop…
You’re not broken…
You’re just ready

⸻

Break (slow, breathy)
Inhale… hold… let it go…
Yeah… just like that…

⸻

Final Chorus (more grounded, powerful but soft)
That was me… but not anymore
I don’t live like that these days
I can breathe… I can feel my feet
I don’t have to run away

That was me… always holdin’ on
Now I’m learnin’ to release
And for the first time in my life…
It actually feels like peace

⸻

Outro
If you see yourself in this…
Yeah… that was me too… 🎶

Think slow blues roots, but modern, feminine, and intimate.