Verse 1 (half-sung / half-spoken) Yeah… I watched you fade, didn’t say nothin’ Stayed ten toes while you turned into someone I ain’t recognize, but I kept holdin’ on Told myself “nah, we just goin’ through somethin’” You started switchin’ up the way you’d talk Made me feel crazy every time I brought it up Had me second guessin’ what I knew was real Like I was the one messin’ everything up Pre-Chorus (light melody building) And I tried… yeah I tried to hold it steady While you were already halfway gone I was fightin’ for somethin’ heavy You were lettin’ go all along Chorus I learned the hard way Love don’t stay just ‘cause you do I gave you all of me While you kept bendin’ every truth I lost myself tryna save us Didn’t even see what you’d do I learned the hard way I was real… you just weren’t true Verse 2 (more direct, slightly more bite) Yeah… You had me feelin’ like I asked too much Like basic love was somethin’ I abused Now I see it clear, it was never that You just couldn’t be who you said you’d be Every time I almost walked away You’d pull me back, say “it’s all in your head” Had me holdin’ on to what we were While you already moved on instead Pre-Chorus (slight variation) I was tryin’ to fix what you wouldn’t face Kept givin’ more when it wasn’t fair Now I see all the games you played You were gone, just left me there Chorus I learned the hard way Love don’t stay just ‘cause you do I gave you all of me While you kept bendin’ every truth I lost myself tryna save us Didn’t even see what you’d do I learned the hard way I was real… you just weren’t true Bridge I should’ve left when it felt off When your words didn’t line up right But I kept holdin’ onto old us While you let go every night Yeah… I see it now I see it clear I lost myself Just to keep you here Final Chorus I learned the hard way Love don’t stay just ‘cause you try I gave you everything While you let it all just die I found myself after breakin’ Now I see it through new eyes I learned the hard way… But I won’t lose me next time
