Soul #2. No Need to Hold It Together

Neo-soul, 80 BPM, Rhodes piano, pocket drums, woody bass, jazz guitar, intimate smoky female alto

[Intro]
If I say I'm doing fine, don't believe it every time,
Sometimes I need somebody to read between the lines.

[Verse 1]
I can light the candles at a party in the rain,
Remember everybody's birthday, hide away my pain.
Keep an extra sweater for the person who gets cold,
Know a thousand gentle words, not one about my own.
They call me the steady one, the shoulder and the stone,
Funny how a crowded life can still feel all alone.
Tonight I dropped my keys beside the kitchen sink,
You asked me what was wrong and gave me time to think.

[Pre-Chorus]
I opened up my mouth, no perfect answer came,
I had to let the silence sit without a name.
You didn't try to solve it or tell me to be tough,
Just pulled another chair up, and that was enough.

[Chorus]
I don't have to hold it together,
When I am here with you.
Don't have to hide behind the weather,
Or say the sky is blue.
Let me be a little unfinished,
Let me cry when I need to.
If your love can hold the pieces,
I can learn to hold them too.

[Instrumental — 8 bars]

[Verse 2]
We watched the kettle shiver, heard the evening traffic slow,
I told you of a fear I'd never let another know.
You didn't look away or make a lesson of the tears,
You said, 'I'm glad you told me. I've been hoping for years.'
I thought I'd lose my place if I revealed a fragile side,
Like kindness was a paycheck only heroes could provide.
But here I am, still breathing, still the person I have been,
Only with the window open, letting someone else come in.

[Bridge]
Strength isn't swallowing the ocean by yourself,
Sometimes it means reaching for another hand for help.
Tomorrow I may have the steadiness to share,
Tonight my bravest act is letting someone care.

[Final Chorus]
I don't have to hold it together,
When I am here with you.
Don't have to hide behind the weather,
Or say the sky is blue.
Let me be a little unfinished,
Let me cry when I need to.
If your love can hold the pieces,
I can learn to hold them too.

[Outro]
Leave the dishes; let the rain fall through,
I don't have to hold it all with you.

2055/7500

[Intro] If I say I'm doing fine, don't believe it every time, Sometimes I need somebody to read between the lines. [Verse 1] I can light the candles at a party in the rain, Remember everybody's birthday, hide away my pain. Keep an extra sweater for the person who gets cold, Know a thousand gentle words, not one about my own. They call me the steady one, the shoulder and the stone, Funny how a crowded life can still feel all alone. Tonight I dropped my keys beside the kitchen sink, You asked me what was wrong and gave me time to think. [Pre-Chorus] I opened up my mouth, no perfect answer came, I had to let the silence sit without a name. You didn't try to solve it or tell me to be tough, Just pulled another chair up, and that was enough. [Chorus] I don't have to hold it together, When I am here with you. Don't have to hide behind the weather, Or say the sky is blue. Let me be a little unfinished, Let me cry when I need to. If your love can hold the pieces, I can learn to hold them too. [Instrumental — 8 bars] [Verse 2] We watched the kettle shiver, heard the evening traffic slow, I told you of a fear I'd never let another know. You didn't look away or make a lesson of the tears, You said, 'I'm glad you told me. I've been hoping for years.' I thought I'd lose my place if I revealed a fragile side, Like kindness was a paycheck only heroes could provide. But here I am, still breathing, still the person I have been, Only with the window open, letting someone else come in. [Bridge] Strength isn't swallowing the ocean by yourself, Sometimes it means reaching for another hand for help. Tomorrow I may have the steadiness to share, Tonight my bravest act is letting someone care. [Final Chorus] I don't have to hold it together, When I am here with you. Don't have to hide behind the weather, Or say the sky is blue. Let me be a little unfinished, Let me cry when I need to. If your love can hold the pieces, I can learn to hold them too. [Outro] Leave the dishes; let the rain fall through, I don't have to hold it all with you.

0/500