What Comes Back

[Intro] (almost nothing, slow) (quiet) …just one more time… [Verse 1] I stood there where the ground gives way Same cold air, same empty place I told myself I wouldn’t stay… But I never really walked away Every step felt set in stone Like I’d already made it home To the one place I swore I’d leave But it never let go of me [Pre-Chorus] I said I learned I said I knew But standing here… I still come through [Chorus] (low, controlled, haunting) What comes back… isn’t what you knew It wears the face… but it’s not the truth And I can feel it in my chest Like I’m choosing this again What comes back… doesn’t let you go It finds its way… through what you know And I see it now, I understand… But I’m still standing on that land [Verse 2] I hear your voice inside my head Every word of what you said Every warning I ignored Still echoes louder than before I said I’d never cross that line Said I’d leave it all behind But grief don’t listen when it calls And I never stood a chance at all [Pre-Chorus] I know the cost I know the weight But knowing now… Don’t change this place [Chorus] (slightly wider, still restrained) What comes back… isn’t what you knew It wears the face… but it’s not the truth And I can feel it pulling in Like I’m choosing this again What comes back… doesn’t make it right It just stays there… inside your life And I see it now, I understand… But I’m still standing on that land [Bridge] (quiet → unsettling) (soft) I should walk away… (beat) I should leave this here… (voice tightening) I should let this end… (longer pause) …just one more time… [Final Chorus] (most haunting point, not loud) What comes back… isn’t what you knew And I knew that… before I chose And I can feel it in my hands Like I’m breaking this again What comes back… never sets you free It just becomes… what you believe And I see it now, I understand… But I’m still standing on that land [Outro] (final, chilling line) (quiet) …this time it’ll be different…