# CHOOSING ME *[Intro — immediate Afrocentric percussion groove, bold tenor sax riff, slap bass enters]* *[Sax and bass trade short phrases]* Yeah... Oh, I know a change gone come! *[Sax hit]* Let's go. ### Verse 1 Been everybody's answer, Everybody's plan. Everybody calls me 'Cause they know I can. Made a way from nothing, Turned a little into more. Held everybody steady While I struggled through my own. But I woke up this morning With a different energy. I still love everybody... *[Sax response]* **But today I'm choosing me.** ### Pre-Chorus I'm making room for joy, Making room for peace. Giving back the weight That never belonged to me. Don't need permission. Don't need you to agree. Baby, move on over— **I'm making room for me.** *[Bass pop — sax riff]* ### Chorus **I'm choosing me, me, me!** *[Sax response]* Got my joy back underneath my feet. **I'm choosing me, me, me!** *[Bass fill]* Got a new rhythm moving through me. I can love you And still say no. I can wish you well And let it go. No guilt. No shame. No apology. This time— I'm choosing ME! *[Sax break]* ### Verse 2 I thought being needed Meant that I was loved. So I kept on giving Even when I'd given enough. Everybody knew I'd somehow make a way. But who was checking on me At the ending of the day? Oh, I learned something— Being needed ain't the same as being seen. [Sax response] And loving everybody Shouldn't mean abandoning me. Pre-Chorus So I'm making room for laughter, Making room to breathe. Keeping some of that good love I've been giving out for me. Don't need permission. Don't need you to agree. I'm not asking for a seat— I'm making room for me. Chorus I'm choosing me, me, me! [Sax response] Got my joy back underneath my feet. I'm choosing me, me, me! [Bass fill] Got a new rhythm moving through me. I can love you And still say no. I can wish you well And let it go. No guilt. No shame. No apology. This time— I'm choosing ME! Instrumental Break [Tenor sax takes the melody] [Slap bass answers] *[Sax responds]* *[African percussion intensifies]* *[Sax and bass trade phrases for 8–16 bars]* ### Bridge — Mama *[Groove pulls back: hand percussion, warm bass pulse, Rhodes]* Mama... You were the one place I never had to be strong. I could put it all down And know I still belonged. *[Soft sax response]* And when you left, I picked everything up. Everybody's worries. Everybody's problems. Everybody's pain. I thought being strong Meant carrying it all. *[Sax answers]* But I'm learning... Strong can also mean Knowing what to put down. *[Percussion begins building]* So I'm putting down the weight. Not the love. *[Bass]* Not the memories. *[Sax]* Not the people I love. **Just the weight.** *[Drums begin building]* And I'm picking up... My peace. *[Sax hit]* My joy. *[Bass pop]* My dreams. *[Percussion hit]* My voice. *[Sax rises]* **MY LIFE.** *[Full band hits]* And Mama... **I'M GONNA LIVE IT!** ### Final Chorus **I'm choosing me, me, me!** *[Sax answers]* Got my joy back underneath my feet! **I'm choosing me, me, me!** *[Bass answers]* Feel that new rhythm moving through me! I can love you! *[Sax]* Still choose me! I can help you! *[Bass]* Still choose me! I can show up Without giving away all of me! No guilt! *[Sax hit]* No shame! *[Bass pop]* No more explaining Why I've changed! **I'M CHOOSING ME!** ### Breakdown Choosing my peace! *[Sax]* Choosing my joy! *[Bass pop]* Choosing my dreams! *[Sax]* Choosing my time! *[Percussion]* Choosing my voice! *[Bass]* Choosing my LIFE! *[Full band]* **AND BABY— I'M CHOOSING ME!** ### Outro — Instrumental Celebration *[Tenor sax launches into full solo]* *[Slap bass underneath]* *[Afrocentric percussion and live drums drive the groove]* *[Rhodes and jazz guitar fill]* *[Vocal ad-libs over the band]* Oh, I'm choosing... Yeah... My peace... My joy... My life... *[Sax answers]* Baby... **ME!** *[Sax and bass take the song out]*
