YOU WERE NEVER MINE [INTRO — 90-SECOND DRUM SOLO] [Upbeat, sophisticated drum solo.] [No vocals. No humming.] [The solo begins energetic and confident, then gradually slows.] [Rhodes piano enters softly near the end. Bass guitar follows.] [The rhythm settles into a warm, late-night R&B groove.] [VERSE 1 — DEEP MALE BASS] Thirty years of almost, Thirty years of maybe someday, Thirty years of finding reasons Not to finally walk away. Every time I'd almost leave you, You'd come dancing through my mind. I kept waiting for my moment, Like love was only taking time. I remembered every birthday, Every laugh, every goodbye. And I built myself a lifetime On the kindness in your eyes. [PRE-CHORUS] But time has a way Of telling the truth, And tonight I finally heard it When I looked at me and you. [CHORUS — MEMORABLE HOOK] You were never mine, I was only loving you in borrowed time. Thirty years of holding on To a heart I couldn't call mine. You were never mine, But Lord knows how I wanted you to be. I spent half my life believing One day you'd turn around and see me. I loved you then, I love you still— Maybe part of me always will. But after all this time, I finally read the signs... You were never mine. [VERSE 2] I chased you through the seasons, Through the lovers, through the years. Sometimes you were close enough To make forever feel so near. There were nights I know you needed me, And I mistook that need for love. Every little piece you gave me, I convinced myself was enough. Maybe I was scared of losing Something I had never won. So I kept standing at your doorway Long after you had moved on. [PRE-CHORUS] And there ain't no villain In this old love of mine. You never made the promise— I just hoped you'd change your mind. [TRUMPET SOLO — EXTENDED] [Long, expressive trumpet solo.] [Begin tender and restrained.] [Let the trumpet gradually rise with emotion, answering phrases from the melody.] [No vocals during the solo.] [Trumpet represents thirty years of words he never said.] [BRIDGE — QUIET, INTIMATE] If I could have those years again, Would I still have loved you so? [Pause] Yeah... That's the hardest truth I know. Because even without forever, Even knowing how it ends, I'd probably still have loved you... I'd just know when to let you go. [FINAL CHORUS] You were never mine, I was only loving you in borrowed time. Thirty years of holding on To a dream I called a sign. You were never mine, But what I felt was real inside of me. You don't have to love me back For me to honor what you meant to me. I loved you then, I love you still, And somewhere deep inside, I always will. But loving you Don't make you mine... And it took thirty years To understand that line. [BREAK — BASS VOICE, ALMOST SPOKEN] Thirty years... I kept asking myself When you were gonna be mine. Never stopped to ask... If you ever wanted to be. [OUTRO — PIANO + TRUMPET] So here's to all the memories, And the man your love made me. No anger... No blame... No more waiting... I'm setting both of us free. [Soft trumpet answers] You were never mine... [Piano] Never mine... [Trumpet holds one final aching note] But for thirty years... I loved you like you were. [Instrumental fade]
