Wrong Side of the Fire

[INTRO — SPARSE — LET IT BREATHE] [VERSE 1 — MALE SOLO — LOW, WEATHERED] I learned to wear my silence Like armor on my skin Every time I felt you reaching I pulled further in I thought I needed distance I thought that made me strong But I was building walls around The place where I belonged [VERSE 1 — MALE SOLO — LOW, WEATHERED] I wasn’t trying to leave you I just didn’t know how to stay Without feeling like every part of me Was something I had to change [VERSE 2 — FEMALE SOLO — WARM, INTIMATE] I learned to hold us tighter Every time I felt you go Called it keeping us together When I was scared to lose control I carried every question Like the answer was my weight I thought if I could save us I could keep us both from breaking [VERSE 2 — FEMALE SOLO — WARM, INTIMATE] I wasn’t trying to change you I was terrified you’d leave Funny how the things we do from fear Become the things we grieve [PRE-CHORUS — CALL AND RESPONSE] [MALE] I pulled away— [FEMALE] I held too tight— [MALE] You called it leaving— [FEMALE] You called mine a fight— [BOTH — QUIET] Two scared hearts Trying to survive... [CHORUS — BOTH — RESTRAINED POWER] We were standing in the ashes Guarding the same fire You were holding on While I was pulling from the wire You needed to feel chosen I needed room to breathe Neither one was giving up Though that's how it seemed We weren't fighting different battles Just different sides of fear [BOTH — OPEN HARMONY] Standing in the same fire Trying to keep each other here [INTERLUDE] [VERSE 3 — MALE SOLO] I can tell you where I failed you Without telling you you're wrong I can finally hear the hurt beneath The words I fought so long I don't need to win the argument If winning costs me us Maybe strength ain't standing harder Maybe strength is learning trust [VERSE 4 — FEMALE SOLO] I can love you without losing Every piece of who I am I can leave my hands wide open And still know where I stand I don't have to hold tomorrow Just to know you'll choose today Maybe love was never gripping Maybe love is making space [BRIDGE — STRIPPED — CALL AND RESPONSE] [FEMALE] I needed empathy— [MALE] I needed grace— [FEMALE] I needed you to hear me— [MALE] I needed somewhere safe— [FEMALE] I thought you didn't want me— [MALE] I thought I'd let you down— [BOTH — ALMOST SPOKEN] All that time we thought we were drowning... [PAUSE] In the same damn water. [FINAL CHORUS — BOTH — LIFT WITHOUT RUSHING] We walked out of the ashes Still carrying the fire You don't have to hold me down I don't have to run and hide You can still be you I can still be me And love can leave us room enough For both of us to breathe We weren't fighting different battles Just different sides of fear We were standing in the same fire— [DROP INSTRUMENTATION] [FEMALE — CLOSE] And you were still here. [MALE — CLOSE] You were still here. [BOTH — QUIET HARMONY] We're still here. [OUTRO — BARE] [MALE] Same scars. [FEMALE] Same fire. [BOTH] Still here.