ONLY ONE I GOT [INTRO — whispered] They ask me who I trust… I used to have an answer. Now I just look in the mirror. [VERSE 1] I got a history I carry like a chain around my neck, Couple people I forgave but I ain't letting them back yet. I learned love can have conditions, learned a smile can hide a knife, Learned the people saying “always” sometimes vanish overnight. I was young when I discovered nobody's coming when you call, So I stopped reaching for a hand and started learning how to crawl. Built a fortress out of failure, put my heart behind the steel, Then I wondered why nobody knew exactly how I feel. Now I'm older, I can see it — I wasn't heartless, I was scared, Every time I let somebody close, I felt like nobody cared. So if I keep a little distance, don't mistake it for regret, I'm protecting something precious I haven't given up on yet. [PRE-CHORUS] I've been everybody's shoulder, Who was mine when I fell? I've been telling everyone “I'm good,” When I wasn't doing well. [CHORUS] I'm the only one I got when the lights go out, Only one who knows what this fight's about. When the whole damn room disappears, I'm still standing here. I'm the only one I got when the night gets cold, Only one who's heard every lie I've told. I don't need the world to understand— I've got my own back. Yeah… I've got my own back. [VERSE 2] Don't confuse my independence with me never needing love, I've got plenty in my heart, I just don't hand it out for trust. I've been someone's “everything” until somebody better came, So I stopped confusing being wanted with being worth the same. I've got memories that hit me when the city's going quiet, Things I wish I could forget but my mind refuses to hide it. Still, I wake up every morning with another chance to breathe, And that's something nobody else on Earth can take from me. I don't need revenge. I don't need them to regret it. I don't need an apology to finally forget it. Let the past keep its stories. Let the old me stay behind. I've got too much life ahead to keep staring at rewind. [PRE-CHORUS] I've been everybody's shoulder, Who was mine when I fell? I've been telling everyone “I'm good,” When I wasn't doing well. [CHORUS] I'm the only one I got when the lights go out, Only one who knows what this fight's about. When the whole damn room disappears, I'm still standing here. I'm the only one I got when the night gets cold, Only one who's heard every lie I've told. I don't need the world to understand— I've got my own back. Yeah… I've got my own back. [RAP — beat strips back] Look— I don't need ten friends, I need one real one, Don't need fake love just because the weekend comes. Don't need champagne, don't need flashing lights, I've been rich in my heart on the poorest nights. I've been counted out more times than I can count, Had my back against the wall and still found a way out. They can talk about the person that they think I became, They weren't there when I was fighting just to carry my name. So tell 'em I'm selfish. Tell 'em I've changed. Tell 'em I stopped playing everybody else's game. Because the hardest thing I ever had to learn was this— You can't keep setting yourself on fire just to keep somebody warm. [BRIDGE — piano / vocal] Maybe someday I'll let somebody see behind the door. Maybe someday I won't be waiting for them to walk away. But tonight… I don't need a crowd. I don't need approval. I don't need permission to be proud of who I am. [FINAL CHORUS — HUGE] I'm the only one I got when the lights go out, Only one who knows what this fight's about. When the whole damn world disappears, I'm still standing here. I'm the only one I got when the night gets cold, Only one who's carried everything I've been told. And if nobody else understands— I've got my own back. I've got my own back. Through the good, through the bad, Through the nights I thought I had nothing left to give. I've got my own back. And after everything… I'm still here. [OUTRO] Who do I trust? Me. Who do I choose? Me. Who stayed? … Me.
