[Intro — Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, gentle pedal steel] [Verse 1 — Intimate, restrained male vocal] I remember when you loved me When forever meant something Somewhere in the years between us We stopped feeling anything I kept reaching for a reason You kept pulling further away I was trying to save tomorrow You were living day to day [Pre-Chorus — Gentle emotional lift] I thought love meant holding on Even when it hurt to stay But I couldn't make you love me No matter what I'd change [Chorus — Warm, aching male baritone] I meant forever when I said it Every word was true I would've stayed through anything If you'd wanted me to I kept holding on When you were letting go Took me half my life To learn what I should've known I meant forever when I said it But forever takes two [Verse 2 — Acoustic rhythm builds, restrained drums] I kept the promises I made Even when the feeling died Told myself we'd find our way If I gave it one more try I learned to live without your touch While you were lying next to me Kept pretending we were fine When we both knew differently [Pre-Chorus — Stronger vocal emotion] I thought leaving meant I'd failed So I stayed another year But there's nothing left to save When you're the only one still here [Chorus — Fuller band, emotional sustained notes] I meant forever when I said it Every word was true I would've stayed through anything If you'd wanted me to I kept holding on When you were letting go Took me half my life To learn what I should've known I meant forever when I said it But forever takes two [Instrumental — 16-bar emotional electric guitar solo, melodic bends and sustained notes] [Bridge — Strip to acoustic guitar and pedal steel] I don't hate you for leaving I don't need to know why I just wish I'd understood Love ain't something one can buy I gave you all I knew to give Till I had nothing left to lose I was fighting for forever But forever takes two [Final Chorus — Full band, powerful emotional male vocal] I meant forever when I said it And I still believe it's true That love is worth the fighting When somebody fights with you I can't get back those years And I wouldn't if I could 'Cause losing what we had Taught me something good I meant forever when I said it God knows I really do But forever... Forever takes two [Outro — Solo acoustic guitar, intimate vocal] I meant forever when I said it Just didn't know... Forever takes two [End — Gentle pedal steel fades]
