[Chorus – boundary statement, calm but firm, unchanged throughout] I’m not safe with my old self (old self) I know him too well (mm) He makes excuses sound reasonable (nah) Turns comfort into a cell (uhh) I’m not safe with my old self (yeah) He don’t mean harm (mm) But he always pulls me back (nah) Right when I start (uhh) [Verse – LONG CONFESSION, flowy, continuous, ad-libs every line] I used to think my old self was tired (yeah) not scared (mm) I defended him (nah) said he been through a lot (uhh) And that was true (true) but it wasn’t the full story (yeah) ‘Cause pain don’t excuse patterns (mm) it just explains them (nah) My old self knew every shortcut (uhh) Every reason to delay (delay) Every way to sound self-aware (yeah) Without ever changing (mm) He knew how to wait things out (nah) Till motivation passed (uhh) How to call rest what was really avoidance (yeah) And healing what was fear (mm) He wasn’t evil (nah) He was convincing (uhh) That’s what made him dangerous (dangerous) He sounded like me (yeah) Same voice (mm) Same logic (nah) Same tone (uhh) Just different direction (direction) Every time I felt momentum (yeah) He showed up calm (mm) Saying “slow down” (nah) Like urgency was reckless (uhh) I lost years trusting him (years) Calling it patience (yeah) Calling it being smart (mm) When really it was hiding (nah) And the hardest part (uhh) Was realizing he kept me safe from risk (safe) But unsafe from growth (yeah) Unsafe from becoming (mm) Unsafe from myself (nah) [Chorus – repeat, unchanged] I’m not safe with my old self (old self) I know him too well (mm) He makes excuses sound reasonable (nah) Turns comfort into a cell (uhh) I’m not safe with my old self (yeah) He don’t mean harm (mm) But he always pulls me back (nah) Right when I start (uhh) [Bridge – stripped, voice close, soul phrasing] I don’t hate who I was (mm) I just can’t follow him anymore (yeah) Not if I wanna live (uhh) Different (nah) Growth need protection (mm) Not permission (yeah) And I finally see (uhh) Who I gotta guard it from (nah) [Final Chorus – unchanged, heavier context] I’m not safe with my old self (old self) So I keep my distance (mm) Not out of hate (nah) Out of respect (uhh) I’m not safe with my old self (yeah) And that’s okay (mm) Some versions of you (nah) Can’t come where you’re going (uhh) [Outro – instrumental fades warm, ad-libs soft] (mm…) (yeah…) (uhh…) I choose me this time
