I've Held on This Long (Afro Soul Remix)

[Intro — Piano, Strings & Soft Horns] [Lead, softly] I used to wonder where you went... Then I learned to wonder less. [Verse 1] There was a time I knew your footsteps Before you ever reached my door I knew the way you'd say my name And what your silence meant before Then one September morning You said you had to find your way I watched you disappear from me With everything I couldn't say [Background, softly] Everything she couldn't say... [Pre-Chorus] Seasons came and seasons went I learned to live without your touch But there's a difference, darling Between moving on... And giving up [Chorus] I've held on this long Why would I let go now? After all these lonely years You're standing here somehow I've held on this long Through every right and wrong And if you came to see If there's still a place for you in me... Darling, I've held on this long [Background] Held on... held on... She kept holding on... [Verse 2] You said, "You look just like I remember" I smiled and turned my eyes away You asked if someone else had found The heart you left that summer day I could've told you many stories Of almost-love and almost-home But every road that promised forever Still left a part of me alone [Background] Still alone... Still remembering you... [Pre-Chorus] Then you reached across the table And your hand found mine once more Funny how the heart remembers What the mind tried to ignore [Chorus] I've held on this long Why would I let go now? After all these lonely years You're standing here somehow I've held on this long Through every right and wrong And if you're asking if the flame Still knows your name... Darling, I've held on this long [Instrumental Interlude — Strings, Muted Trumpet & Piano] [Bridge — Lead with Four-Part Response] [Lead] I won't pretend you didn't hurt me [Background] She remembers... [Lead] I won't pretend I didn't cry [Background] Oh, she cried... [Lead] But love doesn't always leave us [Background] No, no... [Lead] Sometimes it simply waits inside [Background, harmony swelling] It waits... It waits... It waits for love to come back home... [Lead, softly] And somehow... You came home. [Final Chorus — Full Five-Part Harmony] I've held on this long Maybe my heart always knew That every year between us Would somehow lead me back to you I've held on this long And now I understand Some love survives the leaving Some love survives the years Some love just needs a second chance [Background] Second chance... Give love a second chance... [Lead] So if you've come back looking For the love you left behind... [Background] It's still here... [Lead] You don't have to look anymore I've held on this long [Background] Held on... [Lead] I've held on this long [Background] For you... [Outro — Piano, Strings, Voices] [Lead, almost whispered] You took the long way home, baby... But I was still here. [Background, fading in harmony] Held on... Held on... Held on this long... [Lead] And I'd do it all again.