(Tempo: Moderate, building) (Feel: Reflective, growing to hopeful and strong) (Verse 1: Piano is soft, vocals are reflective, almost weary) The overture began But I was still tuning the strings Always waiting on a perfect moment That perfection never brings I specialized in 'someday,' in theory, in the view Never saw the years collecting 'Til they were overdue I thought that pride was a fortress A means to justify the end But that fortress was a prison With a garrison of one And the silence I perfected Is a language I regret I built a life on 'easy' And accrued a heavy debt (Chorus: Drums and acoustic guitar enter, piano swells. Hopeful but grounded.) Oh, I had to learn it all the hard way Had to burn the map just to find the roadway I'm a living testament to stubborn pride But the man I am now, I don't have to hide Yeah, I manufactured distance, I was terrified to need Now I'm trading in my armor, finally willing to concede I'm ready to repair the faith I broke in two I learned the hard way And I'm coming back to you (Verse 2: Music has more drive. A sense of dawning realization.) "Apologies" were currency I couldn't afford to spend So I'd just double down And learn to justify and bend I cursed the ground for being barren For the chances that were gone While I was standing shadow-casting Withholding my own dawn (Chorus: Full energy, harmonies kick in. More assertive.) Oh, I had to learn it all the hard way Had to burn the map just to find the roadway I'm a living testament to stubborn pride But the man I am now, I don't have to hide Yeah, I manufactured distance, I was terrified to need Now I'm trading in my armor, finally willing to concede I'm ready to repair the faith I broke in two I learned the hard way And I'm coming back to you (Bridge: Music softens. Piano and vocals are intimate and raw.) I wanted the acclaim without paying the dues I wanted the horizon without the climb I never wanted all these flaws exposed Just wanted to rewind and fix the time But you don't get the harvest if you never break the ground You can't erase the echo of the sound Of a door I shut, of a word I threw The only way forward is by owning what I put you through (Guitar Solo: Melodic and soaring, full of resolution) (Chorus: Biggest and loudest. Full band. A sense of release.) Oh, I had to learn it all the hard way! Had to burn the map just to find the roadway! I'm a living testament to stubborn pride But the man I am now, I don't have to hide! Yeah, I manufactured distance, I was terrified to need Now I'm trading in my armor, finally willing to concede! I'm ready to repair the faith I broke in two I learned the hard way And I'm coming back to you! (Outro: Fades out, returning to the simple piano from the intro) The hard way... I'm coming back to you. Yeah, the bloom is late. But it's coming through. The hard way. (Piano chord fades.)
