Regret Tastes Bitter

[Intro – soft guitar, muted drums, low ad-libs] (yeah) (mmm) Didn’t think it’d stay like this (nah) But it did [Verse 1 – hip-hop cadence, restrained] I thought time would wash it clean (wash it clean) Thought distance meant relief (relief) But every choice I made back then (back then) Still sittin’ next to me (right here) I said words I can’t retract (can’t retract) Took pride in how I reacted (yeah) Acted tough, acted cold (cold) Now I’m stuck with the after (the after) [Pre Chorus – melodic lift, emo tone] I don’t hate myself, I just remember (remember) Every moment I chose my ego (my ego) I thought I’d forget it with time (with time) But regret don’t fade, it ferments (it ferments) [Chorus – emo / soft rock hook] Regret tastes bitter on my tongue (bitter) Sits there long after the damage is done (yeah) I replay nights I should’ve been better (been better) Said less, listened more, held on longer (held on) I don’t need pain to remind me (nah) Regret tastes bitter… and it finds me (it finds me) [Verse 2 – different flow, more exposed] I see your name and my chest tightens (tightens) Like my body remembers before my mind does (yeah) I don’t reach out, I don’t explain (nah) Some apologies come too late (too late) I thought moving on meant peace (peace) Turns out it just meant quiet (quiet) And quiet got space for every thought (every thought) That I was too loud to hear before (before) [Bridge – soft rock, stripped honesty] Maybe I needed to lose something real (something real) To see how careless I’d been (careless) Maybe growth don’t come gentle (nah) It just leaves a taste you don’t forget (don’t forget) [Final Chorus – fuller, acceptance creeping in] Regret tastes bitter on my tongue (bitter) Not sharp anymore, just numb (just numb) I don’t fight it, I don’t run (nah) I let it sit till it’s done (till it’s done) I’m not proud, but I’m aware (aware) Regret tastes bitter… but I’ll wear it (I’ll wear it) [Outro – fading guitar, low ad-libs] (yeah…) Still learning Still swallowing it