[Intro] Yeah… You ever hold it all in so long That when it finally comes out Even you don’t recognize yourself? [Verse 1] Look, I’ve been the one that always took the blame, Bit my tongue till it was numb, never shook the frame, Everybody got comfortable with me playin’ tame, Now they’re shocked ’cause the fire finally hooked the flame. Spent years bein’ careful with everybody’s feelings, Built bridges while they stood around watchin’ the ceilings, Now they call me different, say I’m losin’ my appeal, But where were they when I was bleedin’ just to help ’em heal? I’ve been carryin’ baggage that was never even mine, Wearin’ smiles over scars, drawin’ straight over the lines, Every compromise became another little crime, Against myself, and now I’m servin’ all the overdue time. So if I sound colder, maybe that’s because I’m done, Spent my whole life bein’ everybody’s favorite son, Favorite friend, favorite shoulder, favorite place to run, Till I realized I was everybody’s… except my own. [Pre-Chorus] And I know they don’t like it, I can see it in their eyes, The version that they loved Was the one that always died. [Chorus] This is the other side of me, The side that stopped beggin’ for peace, The side that lets the bridges burn, If that’s the price of bein’ free. Go ahead, be mad at me, Tell your stories, paint me mean, I’d rather be hated for the truth Than loved for who I’ve never been. This is the other side of me. [Verse 2] I hear the whispers, “Man, he changed.” Yeah, no kidding, that’s the point, Growth ain’t pretty when you’re breakin’ Every chain that’s in the joint. You want the old me? He’s exhausted in a grave I had to dig, Buried underneath expectations That got way too damn big. And maybe I got anger, Maybe that’s the fuel I need, After years of movin’ slowly With a thousand mouths to feed. Not literally— I’m talkin’ every opinion I was carryin’, Every judgment, every critic, Every burden I inherited. Now I’m slashin’ all the ropes, Cuttin’ anchors from the boat, People mad because I’m floatin’ After years of barely coastin’. Funny how they call it selfish When you finally choose yourself, Like your purpose was to suffer Just to keep them feelin’ well. [Pre-Chorus] And I know they don’t like it, I can hear it when they speak, The version they depended on Was slowly killin’ me. [Chorus] This is the other side of me, The side that stopped beggin’ for peace, The side that lets the bridges burn, If that’s the price of bein’ free. Go ahead, be mad at me, Tell your stories, paint me mean, I’d rather be hated for the truth Than loved for who I’ve never been. This is the other side of me. [Bridge] Maybe I’m the villain now, Maybe that’s the role I get, When the people who benefited Watch you settle all your debts. Maybe they’re right, Maybe I am harder, Sharper, Less afraid. But every version of myself Was built from sacrifices made. And this one? This one’s stayin’. [Final Verse] So here’s a toast to every bridge that’s turnin’ into smoke, To every chain I finally snapped, every lie I finally broke, To every version of me that never got the chance to grow, ‘Cause he was too busy keepin’ everybody comfortable. I’m done apologizin’ For evolvin’ out my cage, If maturity looks ugly, Then I’ll wear it on the stage. Let ’em judge. Let ’em leave. Let ‘em swear that I’ve changed. They’re right. I did. And that’s exactly why I finally feel alive. [Outro] This is the other side of me… The side I was afraid to meet. But now that he’s here— He ain’t leavin’.
