Intro (Piano, soft pads — male whispers first) Male: Yeah… I know I broke us in ways I can’t take back… But I’m here baby. (mmm… yeah) Female (layered airy harmonies): you hurt me deep… but I’m still here… --- Verse 1 — Male I let temptation pull me where I shouldn’t go (shouldn’t go) Played with your heart and didn’t even know (didn’t know) You gave me loyalty — I gave you pain (pain…) Now I’m standing at your door in the rain (in the rain, yeah) Male ad-libs: my bad… I know… let me fix it baby… Female background hums: mmm… ohhh… --- Pre-Chorus — Male Lead / Female soft harmony Maybe we fell, but we still can rise (we still can rise…) Broken pieces still fit if we try this time (try this time…) Let me earn your love back, let me stay (stay…) Girl I’m here to fight — not run away (run away…) --- Chorus Together (Call & Response Style) Male Lead: I want to (yeah) I need to (need you girl) I have to (I gotta change) I want to start all over again Female Answers (Keyshia Cole energy): I want to (but boy you hurt me) I need to (I still love you) I have to (if we gon’ win) I want to start all over again (start again… yeah) Harmony stacks: Male low: start all over… start all over… Female high run: again… again… ooo-oooh… --- Verse 2 — Female Lead (hurt, strong, emotional) You broke my trust, left me questioning my worth (worth…) Had me crying, feeling small, in the dirt (in the dirt) But I can’t lie — love don’t fade overnight (no it don’t) Even broken hearts still wanna fight (still wanna fight) Female ad-libs: I was so lost… why’d you do that?.. Male soft ad libs under: I know… I know… --- Pre-Chorus — Female Lead / Male harmonies If we try again, boy don’t let me fall (don’t let you fall) Show me change — don’t just talk at all (I’ll show you all) Hold me close — protect my heart (I will, I will) This time baby we heal, not fall apart (not fall apart…) --- Chorus Together (bigger, emotional push) Male: I want to (want you back) I need to (need you bad) I have to (for us…) I want to start all over again (oooh…) Female: I want to (I still feel the love) I need to (but it’s hard to trust) I have to (if this gon’ last) I want to start all over again (aaaagain — belt) Ad-libs (both): “don’t give up…” “hold on baby…” “we can fix this…” --- Bridge (Conversation feel — raw emotion) Male: Take my hand — I won’t let go (won’t let go) Female: Show me you changed — don’t move too slow (too slow…) Male: I’m ready to love — no secrets inside (no secrets…) Female: Then prove it — be here, not just in your pride (mmm prove it…) Together harmony swell: We can heal… rebuild… start again… ohhh… --- Final Chorus (choir-like, powerful, runs & riffs) Both (unison start then split harmonies): I want to… I need to… I have to… I want to start all over again (big note — “againnnn”) I want to… I need to… I have to… I want to start all over again Harmonies & ad-libs heavy end: Female riffs: oooh-oooh… again… again… Male riffs: I’ll be better… I’m right here… Together (fade): start all over… start all over… --- Outro Male (soft): We ain’t broken — just bruised. Female (gentle): And bruises heal. Together whisper fading: Let’s start… again…
