\[Intro – close female vocal, heartbeat\] Sleepless nights in pain, three little hearts I tried to keep safe. And every time I thought I'd found my way, the little girl in me came back afraid. \[Verse 1 – intimate, rhythmic R&B\] Twenty-three, my boy in my arms, LOoked at that beautiful face and the world went out... Gave him a fighter's name, Figured he'd need it, Life isn't easy, I'd already seen it. We were young, HELL... still growing up, Learning as we went, making things up. You were supposed to be the chain on my leg, But in the end, you were my only reason not to bend. I hugged you so tight with tears in my eyes, I didn't want to share the love I had for you When another positive test came through. \[Sudden instrumental cut – complete silence for one beat\] \[Soft, breath-catching female vocal – slow, tender\] N Heaven... ...opened above. \[Beat returns softly – intimate, flowing R&B vocal\] Loved you both before I could see your eyes, Before your first breath, before your first cry. Every time I thought my heart was full, you just proved me wrong and gave me more of you. \[Rising\] I'm so sorry we got to grow together. I wasn't ready, but full of love and care. And somewhere between the mess and my pain, I swore my kids wouldn't grow up the same. \[Chorus – big, melodic, raw\] But "sorry" can't undo the hurt, it can't take back the way you felt. I said I'm sorry, I meant it too. But sorry can't erase what we've been through. Your mama's a little broken too. Oh, I love you more than life And I know my love can't heal it all, can't catch you every time you fall. But there's one thing I know is true \[Build – voice trembling, rising intensity\] I didn't CHOOSE the hell we've been THROUGH. \[Full emotional shout – raw, sustained, voice breaking\] BUT DAMN ME IF I EVER PASS IT ON TO YOU!!! But damn me!... BUT DAMN ME IF I EVER PASS IT ON TO YOU!!! On to you... \[Verse 2 – grounded, rhythmic\] I've heard the same old words in a different life, Which woke up my inner child. There was no broken glass, no fist against the wall, Just a thousand little cuts in me nobody saw. Here's your mommy packing again, Moving to Granny's all the same. But my legs couldn't run that fast, they were bleeding whenever I passed. No home, no keys, nowhere to go, packed what we had, left what we was. Moved so many times I lost count, kept telling myself we'd figure it out. Crossed the water with two kids and a case, Thought we'd find a little peace in another place. But you can't leave a childhood at an airport gate, It comes through customs with the things you couldn't say. Another chain around my neck, As if one on my leg and one on my hand weren't enough. \[Pre – intimate, emotional, slowly rising\] Another little face, another reason to try. God's gift came along, thought by then I'd know What I was doing fuckin' wrong. I didn't know I'd been carrying That inner pain all along. [Bridge] I knew the sound of every door, Now you were sleeping behind one more. Another room, another bed, another place to rest your little heads. Emergency, temporary... God, how long was this supposed to be? And when they finally gave us keys, I stood there wondering what you'd think of me. I didn't know anxiety had my name, or why each month I couldn't feel the same. I thought that I was losing who I used to be, while you were growing up right next to me. I used to think that I could fix it all, I just worked harder, never let us fall. [Instrumental drops - voice exposed] And all those years I couldn't understand Why I was breaking while I held your hands... \[Chorus – big, melodic, raw\] But "sorry" can't undo the hurt, it can't take back the way you felt. I said I'm sorry, I meant it too. But sorry can't erase what we've been through. Your mama's a little broken too. Oh, I love you more than life And I know my love can't heal it all, can't catch you every time you fall. But there's one thing I know is true \[Build – voice trembling, rising intensity\] I didn't CHOOSE the hell we've been THROUGH. \[Full emotional shout – raw, sustained, voice breaking\] BUT DAMN ME IF I EVER PASS IT ON TO YOU!!! But damn me!... BUT DAMN ME IF I EVER PASS IT ON TO YOU!!! On to you... [outro] I can't give you back the years we lost.. I can't pretend you never paid the cost! But if you ever wonder why I fought so long You were my only reason all along.
